2018 GS-12 Pay Scale
The GS-12 base salary range for 2018 is $63,600 at Step 1, rising to $82,680 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 2018.
2018 GS-12 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-12 rates for 2018.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $63,600 | $2,446.15 | $30.47 | - |
| Step 2 | $65,720 | $2,527.69 | $31.49 | - |
| Step 3 | $67,840 | $2,609.23 | $32.51 | - |
| Step 4 | $69,960 | $2,690.77 | $33.52 | - |
| Step 5 | $72,080 | $2,772.31 | $34.54 | - |
| Step 6 | $74,200 | $2,853.85 | $35.55 | - |
| Step 7 | $76,320 | $2,935.38 | $36.57 | - |
| Step 8 | $78,440 | $3,016.92 | $37.59 | - |
| Step 9 | $80,560 | $3,098.46 | $38.60 | - |
| Step 10 | $82,680 | $3,180.00 | $39.62 | - |
2018 GS-12 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-12 salary schedule for 2018, 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 | $63,600 | $2,446.15 | $30.47 | - |
| Step 2 | $65,720 | $2,527.69 | $31.49 | - |
| Step 3 | $67,840 | $2,609.23 | $32.51 | - |
| Step 4 | $69,960 | $2,690.77 | $33.52 | - |
| Step 5 | $72,080 | $2,772.31 | $34.54 | - |
| Step 6 | $74,200 | $2,853.85 | $35.55 | - |
| Step 7 | $76,320 | $2,935.38 | $36.57 | - |
| Step 8 | $78,440 | $3,016.92 | $37.59 | - |
| Step 9 | $80,560 | $3,098.46 | $38.60 | - |
| Step 10 | $82,680 | $3,180.00 | $39.62 | - |
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 2018, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-12 Step 1 | GS-12 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 39.28% | $88,582 | $115,157 |
| New York-Newark | 32.13% | $84,035 | $109,245 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 31.74% | $83,787 | $108,923 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 30.57% | $83,043 | $107,955 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 28.22% | $81,548 | $106,012 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 28.21% | $81,542 | $106,004 |
| State of Alaska | 28.02% | $81,421 | $105,847 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 27.88% | $81,332 | $105,731 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 27.48% | $81,077 | $105,400 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 27.47% | $81,071 | $105,392 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 26.25% | $80,295 | $104,384 |
| Denver-Aurora | 25.47% | $79,799 | $103,739 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 25.11% | $79,570 | $103,441 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.86% | $79,411 | $103,234 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 24.59% | $79,239 | $103,011 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 23.40% | $78,482 | $102,027 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 23.37% | $78,463 | $102,002 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.64% | $77,999 | $101,399 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 22.53% | $77,929 | $101,308 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 21.16% | $77,058 | $100,175 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.14% | $76,409 | $99,332 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.08% | $76,371 | $99,282 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.87% | $76,237 | $99,109 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.52% | $76,015 | $98,819 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 19.18% | $75,798 | $98,538 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 19.09% | $75,741 | $98,464 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.97% | $75,665 | $98,364 |
| Richmond | 18.79% | $75,550 | $98,216 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 18.49% | $75,360 | $97,968 |
| State of Hawaii | 18.43% | $75,321 | $97,918 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 18.35% | $75,271 | $97,852 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 18.11% | $75,118 | $97,653 |
| Laredo | 17.40% | $74,666 | $97,066 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 16.71% | $74,228 | $96,496 |
| Colorado Springs | 16.59% | $74,151 | $96,397 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 16.50% | $74,094 | $96,322 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 16.49% | $74,088 | $96,314 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 16.47% | $74,075 | $96,297 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.23% | $73,922 | $96,099 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 16.21% | $73,910 | $96,082 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 16.17% | $73,884 | $96,049 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 16.15% | $73,871 | $96,033 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 16.10% | $73,840 | $95,991 |
| Davenport-Moline | 16.08% | $73,827 | $95,975 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.93% | $73,731 | $95,851 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.76% | $73,623 | $95,710 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.37% | $73,375 | $95,388 |
Top and bottom GS-12 localities in 2018
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-12 pay scale
GS-12 is part of the 2018 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 2018
GS-12 questions for 2018
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What is the starting salary for GS-12 in 2018?
The base starting salary for GS-12 in 2018 is $63,600 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2018 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 39.28%), 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.