2016 GS-6 Pay Scale
The GS-6 base salary range for 2016 is $31,504 at Step 1, rising to $40,954 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 2016.
2016 GS-6 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-6 rates for 2016.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $31,504 | $1,211.69 | $15.10 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,554 | $1,252.08 | $15.60 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,604 | $1,292.46 | $16.10 | - |
| Step 4 | $34,654 | $1,332.85 | $16.60 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,704 | $1,373.23 | $17.11 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,754 | $1,413.62 | $17.61 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,804 | $1,454.00 | $18.11 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,854 | $1,494.38 | $18.62 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,904 | $1,534.77 | $19.12 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,954 | $1,575.15 | $19.62 | - |
2016 GS-6 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-6 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 | $31,504 | $1,211.69 | $15.10 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,554 | $1,252.08 | $15.60 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,604 | $1,292.46 | $16.10 | - |
| Step 4 | $34,654 | $1,332.85 | $16.60 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,704 | $1,373.23 | $17.11 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,754 | $1,413.62 | $17.61 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,804 | $1,454.00 | $18.11 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,854 | $1,494.38 | $18.62 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,904 | $1,534.77 | $19.12 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,954 | $1,575.15 | $19.62 | - |
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 2016, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-6 Step 1 | GS-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.75% | $42,767 | $55,595 |
| New York-Newark | 29.20% | $40,703 | $52,913 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 29.11% | $40,675 | $52,876 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.65% | $40,215 | $52,278 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 26.20% | $39,758 | $51,684 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.44% | $39,519 | $51,373 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 25.19% | $39,440 | $51,270 |
| State of Alaska | 25.16% | $39,430 | $51,258 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.78% | $39,311 | $51,102 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.73% | $39,295 | $51,082 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.40% | $39,191 | $50,947 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.93% | $38,728 | $50,345 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.61% | $38,627 | $50,214 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 22.26% | $38,517 | $50,070 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 22.22% | $38,504 | $50,054 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 21.30% | $38,214 | $49,677 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 21.05% | $38,136 | $49,575 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 21.04% | $38,132 | $49,571 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.69% | $38,022 | $49,427 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.58% | $37,672 | $48,973 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.87% | $37,449 | $48,682 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.76% | $37,414 | $48,637 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.39% | $37,298 | $48,485 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.94% | $37,156 | $48,301 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.41% | $36,989 | $48,084 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 17.31% | $36,957 | $48,043 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 17.12% | $36,897 | $47,965 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.81% | $36,800 | $47,838 |
| Richmond | 16.76% | $36,784 | $47,818 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.68% | $36,759 | $47,785 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.50% | $36,702 | $47,711 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.37% | $36,661 | $47,658 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.92% | $36,204 | $47,064 |
| Laredo | 14.59% | $36,100 | $46,929 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 14.55% | $36,088 | $46,913 |
| Colorado Springs | 14.52% | $36,078 | $46,901 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 14.51% | $36,075 | $46,896 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 14.51% | $36,075 | $46,896 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 14.49% | $36,069 | $46,888 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 14.49% | $36,069 | $46,888 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 14.49% | $36,069 | $46,888 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 14.47% | $36,063 | $46,880 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 14.44% | $36,053 | $46,868 |
| Davenport-Moline | 14.43% | $36,050 | $46,864 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 14.42% | $36,047 | $46,860 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 14.37% | $36,031 | $46,839 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35% | $36,025 | $46,831 |
Top and bottom GS-6 localities in 2016
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-6 pay scale
GS-6 is part of the 2016 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 2016
GS-6 questions for 2016
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What is the starting salary for GS-6 in 2016?
The base starting salary for GS-6 in 2016 is $31,504 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2016 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.75%), 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.