2017 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2017 is $103,672 at Step 1, rising to $134,776 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 2017.
2017 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2017.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,672 | $3,987.38 | $49.68 | - |
| Step 2 | $107,128 | $4,120.31 | $51.33 | - |
| Step 3 | $110,584 | $4,253.23 | $52.99 | - |
| Step 4 | $114,040 | $4,386.15 | $54.64 | - |
| Step 5 | $117,496 | $4,519.08 | $56.30 | - |
| Step 6 | $120,952 | $4,652.00 | $57.95 | - |
| Step 7 | $124,408 | $4,784.92 | $59.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $127,864 | $4,917.85 | $61.27 | - |
| Step 9 | $131,320 | $5,050.77 | $62.92 | - |
| Step 10 | $134,776 | $5,183.69 | $64.58 | - |
2017 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 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 | $103,672 | $3,987.38 | $49.68 | - |
| Step 2 | $107,128 | $4,120.31 | $51.33 | - |
| Step 3 | $110,584 | $4,253.23 | $52.99 | - |
| Step 4 | $114,040 | $4,386.15 | $54.64 | - |
| Step 5 | $117,496 | $4,519.08 | $56.30 | - |
| Step 6 | $120,952 | $4,652.00 | $57.95 | - |
| Step 7 | $124,408 | $4,784.92 | $59.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $127,864 | $4,917.85 | $61.27 | - |
| Step 9 | $131,320 | $5,050.77 | $62.92 | - |
| Step 10 | $134,776 | $5,183.69 | $64.58 | - |
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 2017, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 38.17% | $143,244 | $161,900 |
| New York-Newark | 31.22% | $136,038 | $161,900 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 30.97% | $135,779 | $161,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 29.65% | $134,411 | $161,900 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 27.57% | $132,254 | $161,900 |
| State of Alaska | 27.13% | $131,798 | $161,900 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 27.10% | $131,767 | $161,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 26.98% | $131,643 | $161,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 26.85% | $131,508 | $161,900 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 26.73% | $131,384 | $161,900 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 25.68% | $130,295 | $161,900 |
| Denver-Aurora | 24.65% | $129,227 | $161,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 24.24% | $128,802 | $161,900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.14% | $128,698 | $161,900 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 23.87% | $128,419 | $161,900 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 22.72% | $127,226 | $161,900 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 22.61% | $127,112 | $161,900 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.13% | $126,615 | $161,900 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 21.95% | $126,428 | $161,900 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 20.70% | $125,132 | $161,900 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 19.71% | $124,106 | $161,340 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 19.61% | $124,002 | $161,206 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.52% | $123,909 | $161,084 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.02% | $123,390 | $160,410 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 18.66% | $123,017 | $159,925 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 18.57% | $122,924 | $159,804 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.49% | $122,841 | $159,696 |
| Richmond | 18.19% | $122,530 | $159,292 |
| State of Hawaii | 17.92% | $122,250 | $158,928 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 17.86% | $122,188 | $158,847 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 17.82% | $122,146 | $158,793 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 17.59% | $121,908 | $158,483 |
| Laredo | 16.68% | $120,964 | $157,257 |
| Colorado Springs | 15.99% | $120,249 | $156,327 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 15.97% | $120,228 | $156,300 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 15.93% | $120,187 | $156,246 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 15.85% | $120,104 | $156,138 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 15.85% | $120,104 | $156,138 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 15.83% | $120,083 | $156,111 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 15.66% | $119,907 | $155,882 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 15.65% | $119,897 | $155,868 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 15.63% | $119,876 | $155,841 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 15.59% | $119,834 | $155,788 |
| Davenport-Moline | 15.56% | $119,803 | $155,747 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.48% | $119,720 | $155,639 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.36% | $119,596 | $155,478 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.06% | $119,285 | $155,073 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2017
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2017 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 2017
GS-15 questions for 2017
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2017?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2017 is $103,672 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2017 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 38.17%), 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.