2018 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.37% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $105,123 on the base table to $121,280 in Rest of U.S..
2018 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,280 | $4,664.62 | $58.11 | +$16,157 |
| Step 2 | $125,323 | $4,820.12 | $60.05 | +$16,696 |
| Step 3 | $129,366 | $4,975.62 | $61.99 | +$17,235 |
| Step 4 | $133,408 | $5,131.08 | $63.92 | +$17,773 |
| Step 5 | $137,451 | $5,286.58 | $65.86 | +$18,312 |
| Step 6 | $141,493 | $5,442.04 | $67.80 | +$18,850 |
| Step 7 | $145,536 | $5,597.54 | $69.73 | +$19,389 |
| Step 8 | $149,578 | $5,753.00 | $71.67 | +$19,927 |
| Step 9 | $153,621 | $5,908.50 | $73.61 | +$20,466 |
| Step 10 | $157,663 | $6,063.96 | $75.55 | +$21,004 |
2018 GS-15 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-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,280 | $4,664.62 | $58.11 | +$16,157 |
| Step 2 | $125,323 | $4,820.12 | $60.05 | +$16,696 |
| Step 3 | $129,366 | $4,975.62 | $61.99 | +$17,235 |
| Step 4 | $133,408 | $5,131.08 | $63.92 | +$17,773 |
| Step 5 | $137,451 | $5,286.58 | $65.86 | +$18,312 |
| Step 6 | $141,493 | $5,442.04 | $67.80 | +$18,850 |
| Step 7 | $145,536 | $5,597.54 | $69.73 | +$19,389 |
| Step 8 | $149,578 | $5,753.00 | $71.67 | +$19,927 |
| Step 9 | $153,621 | $5,908.50 | $73.61 | +$20,466 |
| Step 10 | $157,663 | $6,063.96 | $75.55 | +$21,004 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
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-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,665 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,064. 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-15 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2018, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $121,280 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $157,663. This is 15.37% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 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-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,157 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,665 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.