2019 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.67% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $64,490 on the base table to $74,596 in Rest of U.S..
2019 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $74,596 | $2,869.08 | $35.74 | +$10,106 |
| Step 2 | $77,082 | $2,964.69 | $36.93 | +$10,442 |
| Step 3 | $79,569 | $3,060.35 | $38.13 | +$10,779 |
| Step 4 | $82,056 | $3,156.00 | $39.32 | +$11,116 |
| Step 5 | $84,543 | $3,251.65 | $40.51 | +$11,453 |
| Step 6 | $87,030 | $3,347.31 | $41.70 | +$11,790 |
| Step 7 | $89,517 | $3,442.96 | $42.89 | +$12,127 |
| Step 8 | $92,004 | $3,538.62 | $44.08 | +$12,464 |
| Step 9 | $94,491 | $3,634.27 | $45.28 | +$12,801 |
| Step 10 | $96,978 | $3,729.92 | $46.47 | +$13,138 |
2019 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.67% 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 | $74,596 | $2,869.08 | $35.74 | +$10,106 |
| Step 2 | $77,082 | $2,964.69 | $36.93 | +$10,442 |
| Step 3 | $79,569 | $3,060.35 | $38.13 | +$10,779 |
| Step 4 | $82,056 | $3,156.00 | $39.32 | +$11,116 |
| Step 5 | $84,543 | $3,251.65 | $40.51 | +$11,453 |
| Step 6 | $87,030 | $3,347.31 | $41.70 | +$11,790 |
| Step 7 | $89,517 | $3,442.96 | $42.89 | +$12,127 |
| Step 8 | $92,004 | $3,538.62 | $44.08 | +$12,464 |
| Step 9 | $94,491 | $3,634.27 | $45.28 | +$12,801 |
| Step 10 | $96,978 | $3,729.92 | $46.47 | +$13,138 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.67% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,869 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,730. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2019, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $74,596 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $96,978. This is 15.67% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2019, it is 15.67%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,106 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,869 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.