2018 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.37% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $63,600 on the base table to $73,375 in Rest of U.S..
2018 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $73,375 | $2,822.12 | $35.16 | +$9,775 |
| Step 2 | $75,821 | $2,916.19 | $36.33 | +$10,101 |
| Step 3 | $78,267 | $3,010.27 | $37.50 | +$10,427 |
| Step 4 | $80,713 | $3,104.35 | $38.67 | +$10,753 |
| Step 5 | $83,159 | $3,198.42 | $39.85 | +$11,079 |
| Step 6 | $85,605 | $3,292.50 | $41.02 | +$11,405 |
| Step 7 | $88,050 | $3,386.54 | $42.19 | +$11,730 |
| Step 8 | $90,496 | $3,480.62 | $43.36 | +$12,056 |
| Step 9 | $92,942 | $3,574.69 | $44.53 | +$12,382 |
| Step 10 | $95,388 | $3,668.77 | $45.71 | +$12,708 |
2018 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.37% 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 | $73,375 | $2,822.12 | $35.16 | +$9,775 |
| Step 2 | $75,821 | $2,916.19 | $36.33 | +$10,101 |
| Step 3 | $78,267 | $3,010.27 | $37.50 | +$10,427 |
| Step 4 | $80,713 | $3,104.35 | $38.67 | +$10,753 |
| Step 5 | $83,159 | $3,198.42 | $39.85 | +$11,079 |
| Step 6 | $85,605 | $3,292.50 | $41.02 | +$11,405 |
| Step 7 | $88,050 | $3,386.54 | $42.19 | +$11,730 |
| Step 8 | $90,496 | $3,480.62 | $43.36 | +$12,056 |
| Step 9 | $92,942 | $3,574.69 | $44.53 | +$12,382 |
| Step 10 | $95,388 | $3,668.77 | $45.71 | +$12,708 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 2018, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.37% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,822 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,669. 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-12 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2018, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $73,375 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $95,388. This is 15.37% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2018, it is 15.37%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,775 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,822 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.