2016 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2016 is $102,646 at Step 1, rising to $133,444 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 2016.
2016 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2016.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $102,646 | $3,947.92 | $49.18 | - |
| Step 2 | $106,068 | $4,079.54 | $50.82 | - |
| Step 3 | $109,490 | $4,211.15 | $52.46 | - |
| Step 4 | $112,912 | $4,342.77 | $54.10 | - |
| Step 5 | $116,334 | $4,474.38 | $55.74 | - |
| Step 6 | $119,756 | $4,606.00 | $57.38 | - |
| Step 7 | $123,178 | $4,737.62 | $59.02 | - |
| Step 8 | $126,600 | $4,869.23 | $60.66 | - |
| Step 9 | $130,022 | $5,000.85 | $62.30 | - |
| Step 10 | $133,444 | $5,132.46 | $63.94 | - |
2016 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 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 | $102,646 | $3,947.92 | $49.18 | - |
| Step 2 | $106,068 | $4,079.54 | $50.82 | - |
| Step 3 | $109,490 | $4,211.15 | $52.46 | - |
| Step 4 | $112,912 | $4,342.77 | $54.10 | - |
| Step 5 | $116,334 | $4,474.38 | $55.74 | - |
| Step 6 | $119,756 | $4,606.00 | $57.38 | - |
| Step 7 | $123,178 | $4,737.62 | $59.02 | - |
| Step 8 | $126,600 | $4,869.23 | $60.66 | - |
| Step 9 | $130,022 | $5,000.85 | $62.30 | - |
| Step 10 | $133,444 | $5,132.46 | $63.94 | - |
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 2016, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.75% | $139,342 | $160,300 |
| New York-Newark | 29.20% | $132,619 | $160,300 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 29.11% | $132,526 | $160,300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.65% | $131,028 | $160,300 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 26.20% | $129,539 | $160,300 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.44% | $128,759 | $160,300 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 25.19% | $128,503 | $160,300 |
| State of Alaska | 25.16% | $128,472 | $160,300 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.78% | $128,082 | $160,300 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.73% | $128,030 | $160,300 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.40% | $127,692 | $160,300 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.93% | $126,183 | $160,300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.61% | $125,854 | $160,300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 22.26% | $125,495 | $160,300 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 22.22% | $125,454 | $160,300 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 21.30% | $124,510 | $160,300 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 21.05% | $124,253 | $160,300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 21.04% | $124,243 | $160,300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.69% | $123,883 | $160,300 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.58% | $122,744 | $159,572 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.87% | $122,015 | $158,625 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.76% | $121,902 | $158,478 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.39% | $121,523 | $157,984 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.94% | $121,061 | $157,384 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.41% | $120,517 | $156,677 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 17.31% | $120,414 | $156,543 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 17.12% | $120,219 | $156,290 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.81% | $119,901 | $155,876 |
| Richmond | 16.76% | $119,849 | $155,809 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.68% | $119,767 | $155,702 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.50% | $119,583 | $155,462 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.37% | $119,449 | $155,289 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.92% | $117,961 | $153,354 |
| Laredo | 14.59% | $117,622 | $152,913 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 14.55% | $117,581 | $152,860 |
| Colorado Springs | 14.52% | $117,550 | $152,820 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 14.51% | $117,540 | $152,807 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 14.51% | $117,540 | $152,807 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 14.49% | $117,519 | $152,780 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 14.49% | $117,519 | $152,780 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 14.49% | $117,519 | $152,780 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 14.47% | $117,499 | $152,753 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 14.44% | $117,468 | $152,713 |
| Davenport-Moline | 14.43% | $117,458 | $152,700 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 14.42% | $117,448 | $152,687 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 14.37% | $117,396 | $152,620 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35% | $117,376 | $152,593 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2016
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2016 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 2016
GS-15 questions for 2016
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2016?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2016 is $102,646 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2016 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.75%), 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.