2018 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 39.28% 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 $146,415 in San Francisco.
2018 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $146,415 | $5,631.35 | $70.16 | +$41,292 |
| Step 2 | $151,296 | $5,819.08 | $72.49 | +$42,669 |
| Step 3 | $156,176 | $6,006.77 | $74.83 | +$44,045 |
| Step 4 | $161,056 | $6,194.46 | $77.17 | +$45,421 |
| Step 5 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$45,061 |
| Step 6 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$41,557 |
| Step 7 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$38,053 |
| 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 Francisco
Each step below already includes the 39.28% 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 | $146,415 | $5,631.35 | $70.16 | +$41,292 |
| Step 2 | $151,296 | $5,819.08 | $72.49 | +$42,669 |
| Step 3 | $156,176 | $6,006.77 | $74.83 | +$44,045 |
| Step 4 | $161,056 | $6,194.46 | $77.17 | +$45,421 |
| Step 5 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$45,061 |
| Step 6 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$41,557 |
| Step 7 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$38,053 |
| 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 Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in San Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 39.28% 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 Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $5,631 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 Francisco page.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-15 in San Francisco questions
-
How much does a GS-15 make in San Francisco?
In 2018, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $146,415 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,200. This is 39.28% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2018, it is 39.28%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $41,292 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $5,631 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.