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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$68,036 GS-11 Step 1 in Washington DC (2018)
$88,450 GS-11 Step 10 in Washington DC (2018)
+$14,974 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-11 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 28.22% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $68,036 $2,616.77 $32.60 +$14,974
Step 2 $70,304 $2,704.00 $33.69 +$15,473
Step 3 $72,573 $2,791.27 $34.77 +$15,973
Step 4 $74,841 $2,878.50 $35.86 +$16,472
Step 5 $77,109 $2,965.73 $36.95 +$16,971
Step 6 $79,377 $3,052.96 $38.03 +$17,470
Step 7 $81,645 $3,140.19 $39.12 +$17,969
Step 8 $83,914 $3,227.46 $40.21 +$18,469
Step 9 $86,182 $3,314.69 $41.29 +$18,968
Step 10 $88,450 $3,401.92 $42.38 +$19,467
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $53,062
  • Washington DC GS-11 Step 1 $68,036
  • Locality add-on +$14,974
  • Adjustment percent 28.22%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $68,983
  • Washington DC GS-11 Step 10 $88,450

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-11 in Washington DC: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2018, the Washington DC pay area adds a 28.22% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,617 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,402. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2018 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-11 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in Washington DC?
    In 2018, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $68,036 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $88,450. This is 28.22% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2018, it is 28.22%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,974 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,617 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.