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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$69,581 GS-11 Step 1 in Washington DC (2019)
$90,461 GS-11 Step 10 in Washington DC (2019)
+$15,776 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-11 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 29.32% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $69,581 $2,676.19 $33.34 +$15,776
Step 2 $71,901 $2,765.42 $34.45 +$16,302
Step 3 $74,221 $2,854.65 $35.56 +$16,828
Step 4 $76,541 $2,943.88 $36.68 +$17,354
Step 5 $78,861 $3,033.12 $37.79 +$17,880
Step 6 $81,181 $3,122.35 $38.90 +$18,406
Step 7 $83,501 $3,211.58 $40.01 +$18,932
Step 8 $85,821 $3,300.81 $41.12 +$19,458
Step 9 $88,141 $3,390.04 $42.23 +$19,984
Step 10 $90,461 $3,479.27 $43.34 +$20,510
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $53,805
  • Washington DC GS-11 Step 1 $69,581
  • Locality add-on +$15,776
  • Adjustment percent 29.32%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $69,951
  • Washington DC GS-11 Step 10 $90,461

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-11 in Washington DC: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2019, the Washington DC pay area adds a 29.32% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,676 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,479. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2019 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-11 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in Washington DC?
    In 2019, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $69,581 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $90,461. This is 29.32% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2019, it is 29.32%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,776 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,676 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.