2016 GS-12 Pay Scale
The GS-12 base salary range for 2016 is $62,101 at Step 1, rising to $80,731 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-12 for 2016.
2016 GS-12 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-12 rates for 2016.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,101 | $2,388.50 | $29.76 | - |
| Step 2 | $64,171 | $2,468.12 | $30.75 | - |
| Step 3 | $66,241 | $2,547.73 | $31.74 | - |
| Step 4 | $68,311 | $2,627.35 | $32.73 | - |
| Step 5 | $70,381 | $2,706.96 | $33.72 | - |
| Step 6 | $72,451 | $2,786.58 | $34.72 | - |
| Step 7 | $74,521 | $2,866.19 | $35.71 | - |
| Step 8 | $76,591 | $2,945.81 | $36.70 | - |
| Step 9 | $78,661 | $3,025.42 | $37.69 | - |
| Step 10 | $80,731 | $3,105.04 | $38.68 | - |
2016 GS-12 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-12 salary schedule for 2016, 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 | $62,101 | $2,388.50 | $29.76 | - |
| Step 2 | $64,171 | $2,468.12 | $30.75 | - |
| Step 3 | $66,241 | $2,547.73 | $31.74 | - |
| Step 4 | $68,311 | $2,627.35 | $32.73 | - |
| Step 5 | $70,381 | $2,706.96 | $33.72 | - |
| Step 6 | $72,451 | $2,786.58 | $34.72 | - |
| Step 7 | $74,521 | $2,866.19 | $35.71 | - |
| Step 8 | $76,591 | $2,945.81 | $36.70 | - |
| Step 9 | $78,661 | $3,025.42 | $37.69 | - |
| Step 10 | $80,731 | $3,105.04 | $38.68 | - |
Who is a GS-12?
Typical role. Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Career progression. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-12 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-12 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2016, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-12 Step 1 | GS-12 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.75% | $84,302 | $109,592 |
| New York-Newark | 29.20% | $80,234 | $104,304 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 29.11% | $80,179 | $104,232 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.65% | $79,272 | $103,053 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 26.20% | $78,371 | $101,883 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.44% | $77,899 | $101,269 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 25.19% | $77,744 | $101,067 |
| State of Alaska | 25.16% | $77,726 | $101,043 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.78% | $77,490 | $100,736 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.73% | $77,459 | $100,696 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.40% | $77,254 | $100,429 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.93% | $76,341 | $99,243 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.61% | $76,142 | $98,984 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 22.26% | $75,925 | $98,702 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 22.22% | $75,900 | $98,669 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 21.30% | $75,329 | $97,927 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 21.05% | $75,173 | $97,725 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 21.04% | $75,167 | $97,717 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.69% | $74,950 | $97,434 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.58% | $74,260 | $96,538 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.87% | $73,819 | $95,965 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.76% | $73,751 | $95,876 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.39% | $73,521 | $95,577 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.94% | $73,242 | $95,214 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.41% | $72,913 | $94,786 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 17.31% | $72,851 | $94,706 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 17.12% | $72,733 | $94,552 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.81% | $72,540 | $94,302 |
| Richmond | 16.76% | $72,509 | $94,262 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.68% | $72,459 | $94,197 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.50% | $72,348 | $94,052 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.37% | $72,267 | $93,947 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.92% | $71,366 | $92,776 |
| Laredo | 14.59% | $71,162 | $92,510 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 14.55% | $71,137 | $92,477 |
| Colorado Springs | 14.52% | $71,118 | $92,453 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 14.51% | $71,112 | $92,445 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 14.51% | $71,112 | $92,445 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 14.49% | $71,099 | $92,429 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 14.49% | $71,099 | $92,429 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 14.49% | $71,099 | $92,429 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 14.47% | $71,087 | $92,413 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 14.44% | $71,068 | $92,389 |
| Davenport-Moline | 14.43% | $71,062 | $92,380 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 14.42% | $71,056 | $92,372 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 14.37% | $71,025 | $92,332 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35% | $71,012 | $92,316 |
Top and bottom GS-12 localities in 2016
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-12 pay scale
GS-12 is part of the 2016 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
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 2016
GS-12 questions for 2016
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What is the starting salary for GS-12 in 2016?
The base starting salary for GS-12 in 2016 is $62,101 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2016 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.75%), GS-12 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-12 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-12 to GS-13?
Promotion from GS-12 to GS-13 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-13 vacancy. Open the GS-13 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-12?
GS-12 is roughly equivalent to O-5 Lieutenant Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.