2017 GS-12 Pay Scale
The GS-12 base salary range for 2017 is $62,722 at Step 1, rising to $81,541 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 2017.
2017 GS-12 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-12 rates for 2017.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,722 | $2,412.38 | $30.05 | - |
| Step 2 | $64,813 | $2,492.81 | $31.06 | - |
| Step 3 | $66,904 | $2,573.23 | $32.06 | - |
| Step 4 | $68,995 | $2,653.65 | $33.06 | - |
| Step 5 | $71,086 | $2,734.08 | $34.06 | - |
| Step 6 | $73,177 | $2,814.50 | $35.06 | - |
| Step 7 | $75,268 | $2,894.92 | $36.07 | - |
| Step 8 | $77,359 | $2,975.35 | $37.07 | - |
| Step 9 | $79,450 | $3,055.77 | $38.07 | - |
| Step 10 | $81,541 | $3,136.19 | $39.07 | - |
2017 GS-12 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-12 salary schedule for 2017, 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 | $62,722 | $2,412.38 | $30.05 | - |
| Step 2 | $64,813 | $2,492.81 | $31.06 | - |
| Step 3 | $66,904 | $2,573.23 | $32.06 | - |
| Step 4 | $68,995 | $2,653.65 | $33.06 | - |
| Step 5 | $71,086 | $2,734.08 | $34.06 | - |
| Step 6 | $73,177 | $2,814.50 | $35.06 | - |
| Step 7 | $75,268 | $2,894.92 | $36.07 | - |
| Step 8 | $77,359 | $2,975.35 | $37.07 | - |
| Step 9 | $79,450 | $3,055.77 | $38.07 | - |
| Step 10 | $81,541 | $3,136.19 | $39.07 | - |
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 2017, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-12 Step 1 | GS-12 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 38.17% | $86,663 | $112,665 |
| New York-Newark | 31.22% | $82,304 | $106,998 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 30.97% | $82,147 | $106,794 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 29.65% | $81,319 | $105,718 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 27.57% | $80,014 | $104,022 |
| State of Alaska | 27.13% | $79,738 | $103,663 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 27.10% | $79,720 | $103,639 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 26.98% | $79,644 | $103,541 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 26.85% | $79,563 | $103,435 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 26.73% | $79,488 | $103,337 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 25.68% | $78,829 | $102,481 |
| Denver-Aurora | 24.65% | $78,183 | $101,641 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 24.24% | $77,926 | $101,307 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.14% | $77,863 | $101,225 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 23.87% | $77,694 | $101,005 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 22.72% | $76,972 | $100,067 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 22.61% | $76,903 | $99,977 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.13% | $76,602 | $99,586 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 21.95% | $76,489 | $99,439 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 20.70% | $75,705 | $98,420 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 19.71% | $75,085 | $97,613 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 19.61% | $75,022 | $97,531 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.52% | $74,965 | $97,458 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.02% | $74,652 | $97,050 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 18.66% | $74,426 | $96,757 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 18.57% | $74,369 | $96,683 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.49% | $74,319 | $96,618 |
| Richmond | 18.19% | $74,131 | $96,373 |
| State of Hawaii | 17.92% | $73,962 | $96,153 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 17.86% | $73,924 | $96,104 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 17.82% | $73,899 | $96,072 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 17.59% | $73,755 | $95,884 |
| Laredo | 16.68% | $73,184 | $95,142 |
| Colorado Springs | 15.99% | $72,751 | $94,579 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 15.97% | $72,739 | $94,563 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 15.93% | $72,714 | $94,530 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 15.85% | $72,663 | $94,465 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 15.85% | $72,663 | $94,465 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 15.83% | $72,651 | $94,449 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 15.66% | $72,544 | $94,310 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 15.65% | $72,538 | $94,302 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 15.63% | $72,525 | $94,286 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 15.59% | $72,500 | $94,253 |
| Davenport-Moline | 15.56% | $72,482 | $94,229 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.48% | $72,431 | $94,164 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.36% | $72,356 | $94,066 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.06% | $72,168 | $93,821 |
Top and bottom GS-12 localities in 2017
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-12 pay scale
GS-12 is part of the 2017 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 2017
GS-12 questions for 2017
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What is the starting salary for GS-12 in 2017?
The base starting salary for GS-12 in 2017 is $62,722 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2017 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 38.17%), 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.