2018 GS-15 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 25.11% 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 $131,519 in SEATTLE.
2018 GS-15 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $131,519 | $5,058.42 | $63.02 | +$26,396 |
| Step 2 | $135,903 | $5,227.04 | $65.12 | +$27,276 |
| Step 3 | $140,287 | $5,395.65 | $67.22 | +$28,156 |
| Step 4 | $144,671 | $5,564.27 | $69.32 | +$29,036 |
| Step 5 | $149,055 | $5,732.88 | $71.42 | +$29,916 |
| Step 6 | $153,439 | $5,901.50 | $73.52 | +$30,796 |
| Step 7 | $157,823 | $6,070.12 | $75.62 | +$31,676 |
| Step 8 | $162,206 | $6,238.69 | $77.72 | +$32,555 |
| 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 SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 25.11% 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 | $131,519 | $5,058.42 | $63.02 | +$26,396 |
| Step 2 | $135,903 | $5,227.04 | $65.12 | +$27,276 |
| Step 3 | $140,287 | $5,395.65 | $67.22 | +$28,156 |
| Step 4 | $144,671 | $5,564.27 | $69.32 | +$29,036 |
| Step 5 | $149,055 | $5,732.88 | $71.42 | +$29,916 |
| Step 6 | $153,439 | $5,901.50 | $73.52 | +$30,796 |
| Step 7 | $157,823 | $6,070.12 | $75.62 | +$31,676 |
| Step 8 | $162,206 | $6,238.69 | $77.72 | +$32,555 |
| 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 SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 25.11% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $5,058 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-15 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in SEATTLE?
In 2018, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $131,519 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,200. This is 25.11% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2018, it is 25.11%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,396 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $5,058 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.