An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$77,762 GS-12 Step 1 in MILWAUKEE (2019)
$101,094 GS-12 Step 10 in MILWAUKEE (2019)
+$13,272 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-12 pay table for MILWAUKEE

Each step below already includes the 20.58% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $77,762 $2,990.85 $37.26 +$13,272
Step 2 $80,355 $3,090.58 $38.50 +$13,715
Step 3 $82,947 $3,190.27 $39.74 +$14,157
Step 4 $85,539 $3,289.96 $40.99 +$14,599
Step 5 $88,132 $3,389.69 $42.23 +$15,042
Step 6 $90,724 $3,489.38 $43.47 +$15,484
Step 7 $93,317 $3,589.12 $44.71 +$15,927
Step 8 $95,909 $3,688.81 $45.96 +$16,369
Step 9 $98,502 $3,788.54 $47.20 +$16,812
Step 10 $101,094 $3,888.23 $48.44 +$17,254
← GS-11 Calculate my take-home GS-13 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more MILWAUKEE pays

  • Base GS-12 Step 1 $64,490
  • MILWAUKEE GS-12 Step 1 $77,762
  • Locality add-on +$13,272
  • Adjustment percent 20.58%
  • Base GS-12 Step 10 $83,840
  • MILWAUKEE GS-12 Step 10 $101,094

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-12 in MILWAUKEE: what to expect

Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.

For 2019, the MILWAUKEE pay area adds a 20.58% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.

The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in MILWAUKEE

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in MILWAUKEE earns roughly $2,991 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,888. 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-12 MILWAUKEE page.

Other grades in MILWAUKEE

GS-12 in MILWAUKEE questions

  • How much does a GS-12 make in MILWAUKEE?
    In 2019, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in MILWAUKEE earns $77,762 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $101,094. This is 20.58% higher than the base GS-12 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in MILWAUKEE?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For MILWAUKEE in 2019, it is 20.58%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,272 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in MILWAUKEE?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in MILWAUKEE earns roughly $2,991 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.