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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$26,062 GS-3 Step 1 in BUFFALO (2015)
$33,884 GS-3 Step 10 in BUFFALO (2015)
+$3,783 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-3 pay table for BUFFALO

Each step below already includes the 16.98% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $26,062 $1,002.38 $12.49 +$3,783
Step 2 $26,931 $1,035.81 $12.90 +$3,909
Step 3 $27,800 $1,069.23 $13.32 +$4,035
Step 4 $28,669 $1,102.65 $13.74 +$4,161
Step 5 $29,539 $1,136.12 $14.15 +$4,288
Step 6 $30,408 $1,169.54 $14.57 +$4,414
Step 7 $31,277 $1,202.96 $14.99 +$4,540
Step 8 $32,146 $1,236.38 $15.40 +$4,666
Step 9 $33,015 $1,269.81 $15.82 +$4,792
Step 10 $33,884 $1,303.23 $16.24 +$4,918
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more BUFFALO pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $22,279
  • BUFFALO GS-3 Step 1 $26,062
  • Locality add-on +$3,783
  • Adjustment percent 16.98%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $28,966
  • BUFFALO GS-3 Step 10 $33,884

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-3 in BUFFALO: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2015, the BUFFALO pay area adds a 16.98% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in BUFFALO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,002 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,303. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-3 BUFFALO page.

Other grades in BUFFALO

GS-3 in BUFFALO questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in BUFFALO?
    In 2015, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns $26,062 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $33,884. This is 16.98% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in BUFFALO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BUFFALO in 2015, it is 16.98%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $3,783 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in BUFFALO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,002 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.