2015 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2015 is $101,630 at Step 1, rising to $132,122 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2015.
2015 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2015.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $101,630 | $3,908.85 | $48.70 | - |
| Step 2 | $105,018 | $4,039.15 | $50.32 | - |
| Step 3 | $108,406 | $4,169.46 | $51.94 | - |
| Step 4 | $111,794 | $4,299.77 | $53.57 | - |
| Step 5 | $115,182 | $4,430.08 | $55.19 | - |
| Step 6 | $118,570 | $4,560.38 | $56.81 | - |
| Step 7 | $121,958 | $4,690.69 | $58.44 | - |
| Step 8 | $125,346 | $4,821.00 | $60.06 | - |
| Step 9 | $128,734 | $4,951.31 | $61.68 | - |
| Step 10 | $132,122 | $5,081.62 | $63.31 | - |
2015 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2015, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $101,630 | $3,908.85 | $48.70 | - |
| Step 2 | $105,018 | $4,039.15 | $50.32 | - |
| Step 3 | $108,406 | $4,169.46 | $51.94 | - |
| Step 4 | $111,794 | $4,299.77 | $53.57 | - |
| Step 5 | $115,182 | $4,430.08 | $55.19 | - |
| Step 6 | $118,570 | $4,560.38 | $56.81 | - |
| Step 7 | $121,958 | $4,690.69 | $58.44 | - |
| Step 8 | $125,346 | $4,821.00 | $60.06 | - |
| Step 9 | $128,734 | $4,951.31 | $61.68 | - |
| Step 10 | $132,122 | $5,081.62 | $63.31 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2015, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.15% | $137,353 | $158,700 |
| New York-Newark | 28.72% | $130,818 | $158,700 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 28.71% | $130,808 | $158,700 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.16% | $129,233 | $158,700 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 25.82% | $127,871 | $158,700 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.10% | $127,139 | $158,700 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 24.80% | $126,834 | $158,700 |
| State of Alaska | 24.69% | $126,722 | $158,700 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.22% | $126,245 | $158,700 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.19% | $126,214 | $158,700 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.09% | $126,113 | $158,700 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.52% | $124,517 | $158,700 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.20% | $124,192 | $158,700 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 21.81% | $123,796 | $158,700 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 21.79% | $123,775 | $158,700 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 20.96% | $122,932 | $158,700 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 20.79% | $122,759 | $158,700 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 20.67% | $122,637 | $158,700 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.35% | $122,312 | $158,700 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.29% | $121,234 | $157,608 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.68% | $120,614 | $156,802 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.55% | $120,482 | $156,631 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.10% | $120,025 | $156,036 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.64% | $119,558 | $155,428 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.16% | $119,070 | $154,794 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 16.98% | $118,887 | $154,556 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 16.76% | $118,663 | $154,266 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.51% | $118,409 | $153,935 |
| Richmond | 16.47% | $118,368 | $153,882 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.37% | $118,267 | $153,750 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.24% | $118,135 | $153,579 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.02% | $117,911 | $153,288 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.68% | $116,549 | $151,518 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.16% | $116,021 | $150,830 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2015
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2015 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2015
GS-15 questions for 2015
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2015?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2015 is $101,630 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2015 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.15%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.