2015 GS-6 Pay Scale
The GS-6 base salary range for 2015 is $31,192 at Step 1, rising to $40,552 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-6 for 2015.
2015 GS-6 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-6 rates for 2015.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $31,192 | $1,199.69 | $14.95 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,232 | $1,239.69 | $15.44 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,272 | $1,279.69 | $15.94 | - |
| Step 4 | $34,312 | $1,319.69 | $16.44 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,352 | $1,359.69 | $16.94 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,392 | $1,399.69 | $17.44 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,432 | $1,439.69 | $17.94 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,472 | $1,479.69 | $18.43 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,512 | $1,519.69 | $18.93 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,552 | $1,559.69 | $19.43 | - |
2015 GS-6 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-6 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 | $31,192 | $1,199.69 | $14.95 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,232 | $1,239.69 | $15.44 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,272 | $1,279.69 | $15.94 | - |
| Step 4 | $34,312 | $1,319.69 | $16.44 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,352 | $1,359.69 | $16.94 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,392 | $1,399.69 | $17.44 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,432 | $1,439.69 | $17.94 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,472 | $1,479.69 | $18.43 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,512 | $1,519.69 | $18.93 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,552 | $1,559.69 | $19.43 | - |
Who is a GS-6?
Typical role. Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Career progression. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-6 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-6 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2015, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-6 Step 1 | GS-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.15% | $42,156 | $54,806 |
| New York-Newark | 28.72% | $40,150 | $52,199 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 28.71% | $40,147 | $52,194 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.16% | $39,664 | $51,566 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 25.82% | $39,246 | $51,023 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.10% | $39,021 | $50,731 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 24.80% | $38,928 | $50,609 |
| State of Alaska | 24.69% | $38,893 | $50,564 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.22% | $38,747 | $50,374 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.19% | $38,737 | $50,362 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.09% | $38,706 | $50,321 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.52% | $38,216 | $49,684 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.20% | $38,117 | $49,555 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 21.81% | $37,995 | $49,396 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 21.79% | $37,989 | $49,388 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 20.96% | $37,730 | $49,052 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 20.79% | $37,677 | $48,983 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 20.67% | $37,639 | $48,934 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.35% | $37,540 | $48,804 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.29% | $37,209 | $48,374 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.68% | $37,019 | $48,127 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.55% | $36,978 | $48,074 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.10% | $36,838 | $47,892 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.64% | $36,694 | $47,705 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.16% | $36,545 | $47,511 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 16.98% | $36,488 | $47,438 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 16.76% | $36,420 | $47,349 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.51% | $36,342 | $47,247 |
| Richmond | 16.47% | $36,329 | $47,231 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.37% | $36,298 | $47,190 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.24% | $36,258 | $47,138 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.02% | $36,189 | $47,048 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.68% | $35,771 | $46,505 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.16% | $35,609 | $46,294 |
Top and bottom GS-6 localities in 2015
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-6 pay scale
GS-6 is part of the 2015 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
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-6 questions for 2015
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What is the starting salary for GS-6 in 2015?
The base starting salary for GS-6 in 2015 is $31,192 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2015 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.15%), GS-6 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-6 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-6 to GS-7?
Promotion from GS-6 to GS-7 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-6 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-7 vacancy. Open the GS-7 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-6?
GS-6 is roughly equivalent to O-1 Second Lieutenant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.