2018 GS-15 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 27.88% 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 $134,431 in SAN DIEGO.
2018 GS-15 Pay in SAN DIEGO
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $134,431 | $5,170.42 | $64.41 | +$29,308 |
| Step 2 | $138,912 | $5,342.77 | $66.56 | +$30,285 |
| Step 3 | $143,393 | $5,515.12 | $68.71 | +$31,262 |
| Step 4 | $147,874 | $5,687.46 | $70.85 | +$32,239 |
| Step 5 | $152,355 | $5,859.81 | $73.00 | +$33,216 |
| Step 6 | $156,836 | $6,032.15 | $75.15 | +$34,193 |
| Step 7 | $161,317 | $6,204.50 | $77.30 | +$35,170 |
| Step 8 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$34,549 |
| Step 9 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$31,045 |
| Step 10 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$27,541 |
2018 GS-15 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 27.88% 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 | $134,431 | $5,170.42 | $64.41 | +$29,308 |
| Step 2 | $138,912 | $5,342.77 | $66.56 | +$30,285 |
| Step 3 | $143,393 | $5,515.12 | $68.71 | +$31,262 |
| Step 4 | $147,874 | $5,687.46 | $70.85 | +$32,239 |
| Step 5 | $152,355 | $5,859.81 | $73.00 | +$33,216 |
| Step 6 | $156,836 | $6,032.15 | $75.15 | +$34,193 |
| Step 7 | $161,317 | $6,204.50 | $77.30 | +$35,170 |
| Step 8 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$34,549 |
| Step 9 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$31,045 |
| Step 10 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$27,541 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SAN DIEGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in SAN DIEGO: 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 SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 27.88% 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 SAN DIEGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $5,170 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,315. 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 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-15 in SAN DIEGO questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2018, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $134,431 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,200. This is 27.88% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in SAN DIEGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2018, it is 27.88%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,308 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in SAN DIEGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $5,170 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.