2018 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2018 is $105,123 at Step 1, rising to $136,659 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-15 for 2018.
2018 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2018.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $105,123 | $4,043.19 | $50.37 | - |
| Step 2 | $108,627 | $4,177.96 | $52.05 | - |
| Step 3 | $112,131 | $4,312.73 | $53.73 | - |
| Step 4 | $115,635 | $4,447.50 | $55.41 | - |
| Step 5 | $119,139 | $4,582.27 | $57.09 | - |
| Step 6 | $122,643 | $4,717.04 | $58.77 | - |
| Step 7 | $126,147 | $4,851.81 | $60.44 | - |
| Step 8 | $129,651 | $4,986.58 | $62.12 | - |
| Step 9 | $133,155 | $5,121.35 | $63.80 | - |
| Step 10 | $136,659 | $5,256.12 | $65.48 | - |
2018 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 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 | $105,123 | $4,043.19 | $50.37 | - |
| Step 2 | $108,627 | $4,177.96 | $52.05 | - |
| Step 3 | $112,131 | $4,312.73 | $53.73 | - |
| Step 4 | $115,635 | $4,447.50 | $55.41 | - |
| Step 5 | $119,139 | $4,582.27 | $57.09 | - |
| Step 6 | $122,643 | $4,717.04 | $58.77 | - |
| Step 7 | $126,147 | $4,851.81 | $60.44 | - |
| Step 8 | $129,651 | $4,986.58 | $62.12 | - |
| Step 9 | $133,155 | $5,121.35 | $63.80 | - |
| Step 10 | $136,659 | $5,256.12 | $65.48 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2018, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 39.28% | $146,415 | $164,200 |
| New York-Newark | 32.13% | $138,899 | $164,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 31.74% | $138,489 | $164,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 30.57% | $137,259 | $164,200 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 28.22% | $134,789 | $164,200 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 28.21% | $134,778 | $164,200 |
| State of Alaska | 28.02% | $134,578 | $164,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 27.88% | $134,431 | $164,200 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 27.48% | $134,011 | $164,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 27.47% | $134,000 | $164,200 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 26.25% | $132,718 | $164,200 |
| Denver-Aurora | 25.47% | $131,898 | $164,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 25.11% | $131,519 | $164,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.86% | $131,257 | $164,200 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 24.59% | $130,973 | $164,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 23.40% | $129,722 | $164,200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 23.37% | $129,690 | $164,200 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.64% | $128,923 | $164,200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 22.53% | $128,807 | $164,200 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 21.16% | $127,367 | $164,200 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.14% | $126,295 | $164,182 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.08% | $126,232 | $164,100 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.87% | $126,011 | $163,813 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.52% | $125,643 | $163,335 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 19.18% | $125,286 | $162,870 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 19.09% | $125,191 | $162,747 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.97% | $125,065 | $162,583 |
| Richmond | 18.79% | $124,876 | $162,337 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 18.49% | $124,560 | $161,927 |
| State of Hawaii | 18.43% | $124,497 | $161,845 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 18.35% | $124,413 | $161,736 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 18.11% | $124,161 | $161,408 |
| Laredo | 17.40% | $123,414 | $160,438 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 16.71% | $122,689 | $159,495 |
| Colorado Springs | 16.59% | $122,563 | $159,331 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 16.50% | $122,468 | $159,208 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 16.49% | $122,458 | $159,194 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 16.47% | $122,437 | $159,167 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.23% | $122,184 | $158,839 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 16.21% | $122,163 | $158,811 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 16.17% | $122,121 | $158,757 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 16.15% | $122,100 | $158,729 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 16.10% | $122,048 | $158,661 |
| Davenport-Moline | 16.08% | $122,027 | $158,634 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.93% | $121,869 | $158,429 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.76% | $121,690 | $158,196 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.37% | $121,280 | $157,663 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2018
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2018 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
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-15 questions for 2018
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2018?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2018 is $105,123 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2018 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 39.28%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 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-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.