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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$27,511 GS-3 Step 1 in SEATTLE (2016)
$35,763 GS-3 Step 10 in SEATTLE (2016)
+$5,009 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2016 GS-3 pay table for SEATTLE

Each step below already includes the 22.26% 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 $27,511 $1,058.12 $13.18 +$5,009
Step 2 $28,428 $1,093.38 $13.62 +$5,176
Step 3 $29,345 $1,128.65 $14.06 +$5,343
Step 4 $30,262 $1,163.92 $14.50 +$5,510
Step 5 $31,179 $1,199.19 $14.94 +$5,677
Step 6 $32,096 $1,234.46 $15.38 +$5,844
Step 7 $33,013 $1,269.73 $15.82 +$6,011
Step 8 $33,930 $1,305.00 $16.26 +$6,178
Step 9 $34,847 $1,340.27 $16.70 +$6,345
Step 10 $35,763 $1,375.50 $17.14 +$6,511
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SEATTLE pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $22,502
  • SEATTLE GS-3 Step 1 $27,511
  • Locality add-on +$5,009
  • Adjustment percent 22.26%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $29,252
  • SEATTLE GS-3 Step 10 $35,763

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 SEATTLE: what to expect

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

For 2016, the SEATTLE pay area adds a 22.26% 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 SEATTLE

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $1,058 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,376. 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-3 SEATTLE page.

Other grades in SEATTLE

GS-3 in SEATTLE questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in SEATTLE?
    In 2016, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $27,511 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $35,763. This is 22.26% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in SEATTLE?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2016, it is 22.26%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,009 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in SEATTLE?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $1,058 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.