2018 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 25.11% 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 $79,570 in SEATTLE.
2018 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $79,570 | $3,060.38 | $38.13 | +$15,970 |
| Step 2 | $82,222 | $3,162.38 | $39.40 | +$16,502 |
| Step 3 | $84,875 | $3,264.42 | $40.67 | +$17,035 |
| Step 4 | $87,527 | $3,366.42 | $41.94 | +$17,567 |
| Step 5 | $90,179 | $3,468.42 | $43.21 | +$18,099 |
| Step 6 | $92,832 | $3,570.46 | $44.48 | +$18,632 |
| Step 7 | $95,484 | $3,672.46 | $45.75 | +$19,164 |
| Step 8 | $98,136 | $3,774.46 | $47.02 | +$19,696 |
| Step 9 | $100,789 | $3,876.50 | $48.29 | +$20,229 |
| Step 10 | $103,441 | $3,978.50 | $49.56 | +$20,761 |
2018 GS-12 pay table for SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 25.11% 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 | $79,570 | $3,060.38 | $38.13 | +$15,970 |
| Step 2 | $82,222 | $3,162.38 | $39.40 | +$16,502 |
| Step 3 | $84,875 | $3,264.42 | $40.67 | +$17,035 |
| Step 4 | $87,527 | $3,366.42 | $41.94 | +$17,567 |
| Step 5 | $90,179 | $3,468.42 | $43.21 | +$18,099 |
| Step 6 | $92,832 | $3,570.46 | $44.48 | +$18,632 |
| Step 7 | $95,484 | $3,672.46 | $45.75 | +$19,164 |
| Step 8 | $98,136 | $3,774.46 | $47.02 | +$19,696 |
| Step 9 | $100,789 | $3,876.50 | $48.29 | +$20,229 |
| Step 10 | $103,441 | $3,978.50 | $49.56 | +$20,761 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 25.11% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,060 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,979. 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-12 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in SEATTLE?
In 2018, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $79,570 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $103,441. This is 25.11% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2018, it is 25.11%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,970 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,060 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.