2017 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 27.10% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $62,722 on the base table to $79,720 in Washington DC.
2017 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 | $79,720 | $3,066.15 | $38.20 | +$16,998 |
| Step 2 | $82,377 | $3,168.35 | $39.47 | +$17,564 |
| Step 3 | $85,035 | $3,270.58 | $40.75 | +$18,131 |
| Step 4 | $87,693 | $3,372.81 | $42.02 | +$18,698 |
| Step 5 | $90,350 | $3,475.00 | $43.29 | +$19,264 |
| Step 6 | $93,008 | $3,577.23 | $44.57 | +$19,831 |
| Step 7 | $95,666 | $3,679.46 | $45.84 | +$20,398 |
| Step 8 | $98,323 | $3,781.65 | $47.11 | +$20,964 |
| Step 9 | $100,981 | $3,883.88 | $48.39 | +$21,531 |
| Step 10 | $103,639 | $3,986.12 | $49.66 | +$22,098 |
2017 GS-12 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 27.10% 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 | $79,720 | $3,066.15 | $38.20 | +$16,998 |
| Step 2 | $82,377 | $3,168.35 | $39.47 | +$17,564 |
| Step 3 | $85,035 | $3,270.58 | $40.75 | +$18,131 |
| Step 4 | $87,693 | $3,372.81 | $42.02 | +$18,698 |
| Step 5 | $90,350 | $3,475.00 | $43.29 | +$19,264 |
| Step 6 | $93,008 | $3,577.23 | $44.57 | +$19,831 |
| Step 7 | $95,666 | $3,679.46 | $45.84 | +$20,398 |
| Step 8 | $98,323 | $3,781.65 | $47.11 | +$20,964 |
| Step 9 | $100,981 | $3,883.88 | $48.39 | +$21,531 |
| Step 10 | $103,639 | $3,986.12 | $49.66 | +$22,098 |
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 2017, the Washington DC pay area adds a 27.10% 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 $3,066 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,986. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2017 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 2017, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $79,720 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $103,639. This is 27.10% 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 2017, it is 27.10%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,998 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 $3,066 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.