2017 GS-6 Pay Scale
The GS-6 base salary range for 2017 is $31,819 at Step 1, rising to $41,368 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 2017.
2017 GS-6 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-6 rates for 2017.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $31,819 | $1,223.81 | $15.25 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,880 | $1,264.62 | $15.75 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,941 | $1,305.42 | $16.26 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,002 | $1,346.23 | $16.77 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,063 | $1,387.04 | $17.28 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,124 | $1,427.85 | $17.79 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,185 | $1,468.65 | $18.30 | - |
| Step 8 | $39,246 | $1,509.46 | $18.80 | - |
| Step 9 | $40,307 | $1,550.27 | $19.31 | - |
| Step 10 | $41,368 | $1,591.08 | $19.82 | - |
2017 GS-6 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-6 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 | $31,819 | $1,223.81 | $15.25 | - |
| Step 2 | $32,880 | $1,264.62 | $15.75 | - |
| Step 3 | $33,941 | $1,305.42 | $16.26 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,002 | $1,346.23 | $16.77 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,063 | $1,387.04 | $17.28 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,124 | $1,427.85 | $17.79 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,185 | $1,468.65 | $18.30 | - |
| Step 8 | $39,246 | $1,509.46 | $18.80 | - |
| Step 9 | $40,307 | $1,550.27 | $19.31 | - |
| Step 10 | $41,368 | $1,591.08 | $19.82 | - |
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 2017, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-6 Step 1 | GS-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 38.17% | $43,964 | $57,158 |
| New York-Newark | 31.22% | $41,753 | $54,283 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 30.97% | $41,673 | $54,180 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 29.65% | $41,253 | $53,634 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 27.57% | $40,591 | $52,773 |
| State of Alaska | 27.13% | $40,451 | $52,591 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 27.10% | $40,442 | $52,579 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 26.98% | $40,404 | $52,529 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 26.85% | $40,362 | $52,475 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 26.73% | $40,324 | $52,426 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 25.68% | $39,990 | $51,991 |
| Denver-Aurora | 24.65% | $39,662 | $51,565 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 24.24% | $39,532 | $51,396 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.14% | $39,500 | $51,354 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 23.87% | $39,414 | $51,243 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 22.72% | $39,048 | $50,767 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 22.61% | $39,013 | $50,721 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.13% | $38,861 | $50,523 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 21.95% | $38,803 | $50,448 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 20.70% | $38,406 | $49,931 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 19.71% | $38,091 | $49,522 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 19.61% | $38,059 | $49,480 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.52% | $38,030 | $49,443 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.02% | $37,871 | $49,236 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 18.66% | $37,756 | $49,087 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 18.57% | $37,728 | $49,050 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.49% | $37,702 | $49,017 |
| Richmond | 18.19% | $37,607 | $48,893 |
| State of Hawaii | 17.92% | $37,521 | $48,781 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 17.86% | $37,502 | $48,756 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 17.82% | $37,489 | $48,740 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 17.59% | $37,416 | $48,645 |
| Laredo | 16.68% | $37,126 | $48,268 |
| Colorado Springs | 15.99% | $36,907 | $47,983 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 15.97% | $36,900 | $47,974 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 15.93% | $36,888 | $47,958 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 15.85% | $36,862 | $47,925 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 15.85% | $36,862 | $47,925 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 15.83% | $36,856 | $47,917 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 15.66% | $36,802 | $47,846 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 15.65% | $36,799 | $47,842 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 15.63% | $36,792 | $47,834 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 15.59% | $36,780 | $47,817 |
| Davenport-Moline | 15.56% | $36,770 | $47,805 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.48% | $36,745 | $47,772 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.36% | $36,706 | $47,722 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.06% | $36,611 | $47,598 |
Top and bottom GS-6 localities in 2017
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-6 pay scale
GS-6 is part of the 2017 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 2017
GS-6 questions for 2017
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What is the starting salary for GS-6 in 2017?
The base starting salary for GS-6 in 2017 is $31,819 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2017 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 38.17%), 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.