2016 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 24.78% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $62,101 on the base table to $77,490 in Washington DC.
2016 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,490 | $2,980.38 | $37.13 | +$15,389 |
| Step 2 | $80,073 | $3,079.73 | $38.37 | +$15,902 |
| Step 3 | $82,656 | $3,179.08 | $39.61 | +$16,415 |
| Step 4 | $85,238 | $3,278.38 | $40.84 | +$16,927 |
| Step 5 | $87,821 | $3,377.73 | $42.08 | +$17,440 |
| Step 6 | $90,404 | $3,477.08 | $43.32 | +$17,953 |
| Step 7 | $92,987 | $3,576.42 | $44.56 | +$18,466 |
| Step 8 | $95,570 | $3,675.77 | $45.79 | +$18,979 |
| Step 9 | $98,153 | $3,775.12 | $47.03 | +$19,492 |
| Step 10 | $100,736 | $3,874.46 | $48.27 | +$20,005 |
2016 GS-12 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 24.78% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,490 | $2,980.38 | $37.13 | +$15,389 |
| Step 2 | $80,073 | $3,079.73 | $38.37 | +$15,902 |
| Step 3 | $82,656 | $3,179.08 | $39.61 | +$16,415 |
| Step 4 | $85,238 | $3,278.38 | $40.84 | +$16,927 |
| Step 5 | $87,821 | $3,377.73 | $42.08 | +$17,440 |
| Step 6 | $90,404 | $3,477.08 | $43.32 | +$17,953 |
| Step 7 | $92,987 | $3,576.42 | $44.56 | +$18,466 |
| Step 8 | $95,570 | $3,675.77 | $45.79 | +$18,979 |
| Step 9 | $98,153 | $3,775.12 | $47.03 | +$19,492 |
| Step 10 | $100,736 | $3,874.46 | $48.27 | +$20,005 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Washington DC: what to expect
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.
For 2016, the Washington DC pay area adds a 24.78% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,980 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,874. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2016 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-12 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Washington DC?
In 2016, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $77,490 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $100,736. This is 24.78% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2016, it is 24.78%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,389 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,980 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.