2019 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 26.04% 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 $81,283 in SEATTLE.
2019 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $81,283 | $3,126.27 | $38.95 | +$16,793 |
| Step 2 | $83,993 | $3,230.50 | $40.25 | +$17,353 |
| Step 3 | $86,703 | $3,334.73 | $41.54 | +$17,913 |
| Step 4 | $89,413 | $3,438.96 | $42.84 | +$18,473 |
| Step 5 | $92,123 | $3,543.19 | $44.14 | +$19,033 |
| Step 6 | $94,832 | $3,647.38 | $45.44 | +$19,592 |
| Step 7 | $97,542 | $3,751.62 | $46.74 | +$20,152 |
| Step 8 | $100,252 | $3,855.85 | $48.04 | +$20,712 |
| Step 9 | $102,962 | $3,960.08 | $49.33 | +$21,272 |
| Step 10 | $105,672 | $4,064.31 | $50.63 | +$21,832 |
2019 GS-12 pay table for SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 26.04% 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 | $81,283 | $3,126.27 | $38.95 | +$16,793 |
| Step 2 | $83,993 | $3,230.50 | $40.25 | +$17,353 |
| Step 3 | $86,703 | $3,334.73 | $41.54 | +$17,913 |
| Step 4 | $89,413 | $3,438.96 | $42.84 | +$18,473 |
| Step 5 | $92,123 | $3,543.19 | $44.14 | +$19,033 |
| Step 6 | $94,832 | $3,647.38 | $45.44 | +$19,592 |
| Step 7 | $97,542 | $3,751.62 | $46.74 | +$20,152 |
| Step 8 | $100,252 | $3,855.85 | $48.04 | +$20,712 |
| Step 9 | $102,962 | $3,960.08 | $49.33 | +$21,272 |
| Step 10 | $105,672 | $4,064.31 | $50.63 | +$21,832 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 26.04% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,126 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,064. 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-12 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in SEATTLE?
In 2019, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $81,283 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $105,672. This is 26.04% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2019, it is 26.04%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,793 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,126 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.