2018 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 28.22% 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 $81,548 in Washington DC.
2018 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $81,548 | $3,136.46 | $39.07 | +$17,948 |
| Step 2 | $84,266 | $3,241.00 | $40.38 | +$18,546 |
| Step 3 | $86,984 | $3,345.54 | $41.68 | +$19,144 |
| Step 4 | $89,703 | $3,450.12 | $42.98 | +$19,743 |
| Step 5 | $92,421 | $3,554.65 | $44.28 | +$20,341 |
| Step 6 | $95,139 | $3,659.19 | $45.59 | +$20,939 |
| Step 7 | $97,858 | $3,763.77 | $46.89 | +$21,538 |
| Step 8 | $100,576 | $3,868.31 | $48.19 | +$22,136 |
| Step 9 | $103,294 | $3,972.85 | $49.49 | +$22,734 |
| Step 10 | $106,012 | $4,077.38 | $50.80 | +$23,332 |
2018 GS-12 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-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $81,548 | $3,136.46 | $39.07 | +$17,948 |
| Step 2 | $84,266 | $3,241.00 | $40.38 | +$18,546 |
| Step 3 | $86,984 | $3,345.54 | $41.68 | +$19,144 |
| Step 4 | $89,703 | $3,450.12 | $42.98 | +$19,743 |
| Step 5 | $92,421 | $3,554.65 | $44.28 | +$20,341 |
| Step 6 | $95,139 | $3,659.19 | $45.59 | +$20,939 |
| Step 7 | $97,858 | $3,763.77 | $46.89 | +$21,538 |
| Step 8 | $100,576 | $3,868.31 | $48.19 | +$22,136 |
| Step 9 | $103,294 | $3,972.85 | $49.49 | +$22,734 |
| Step 10 | $106,012 | $4,077.38 | $50.80 | +$23,332 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 28.22% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,136 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,077. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-12 in Washington DC questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Washington DC?
In 2018, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $81,548 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $106,012. This is 28.22% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,948 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,136 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.