2018 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 28.22% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $75,628 on the base table to $96,970 in Washington DC.
2018 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $96,970 | $3,729.62 | $46.46 | +$21,342 |
| Step 2 | $100,203 | $3,853.96 | $48.01 | +$22,054 |
| Step 3 | $103,435 | $3,978.27 | $49.56 | +$22,765 |
| Step 4 | $106,668 | $4,102.62 | $51.11 | +$23,477 |
| Step 5 | $109,900 | $4,226.92 | $52.66 | +$24,188 |
| Step 6 | $113,132 | $4,351.23 | $54.21 | +$24,899 |
| Step 7 | $116,365 | $4,475.58 | $55.76 | +$25,611 |
| Step 8 | $119,597 | $4,599.88 | $57.31 | +$26,322 |
| Step 9 | $122,830 | $4,724.23 | $58.85 | +$27,034 |
| Step 10 | $126,062 | $4,848.54 | $60.40 | +$27,745 |
2018 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $96,970 | $3,729.62 | $46.46 | +$21,342 |
| Step 2 | $100,203 | $3,853.96 | $48.01 | +$22,054 |
| Step 3 | $103,435 | $3,978.27 | $49.56 | +$22,765 |
| Step 4 | $106,668 | $4,102.62 | $51.11 | +$23,477 |
| Step 5 | $109,900 | $4,226.92 | $52.66 | +$24,188 |
| Step 6 | $113,132 | $4,351.23 | $54.21 | +$24,899 |
| Step 7 | $116,365 | $4,475.58 | $55.76 | +$25,611 |
| Step 8 | $119,597 | $4,599.88 | $57.31 | +$26,322 |
| Step 9 | $122,830 | $4,724.23 | $58.85 | +$27,034 |
| Step 10 | $126,062 | $4,848.54 | $60.40 | +$27,745 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2018, the Washington DC pay area adds a 28.22% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,730 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,849. 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-13 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
-
How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2018, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $96,970 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $126,062. This is 28.22% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,342 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,730 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.