2019 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 29.32% 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 $83,398 in Washington DC.
2019 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $83,398 | $3,207.62 | $39.96 | +$18,908 |
| Step 2 | $86,179 | $3,314.58 | $41.29 | +$19,539 |
| Step 3 | $88,959 | $3,421.50 | $42.63 | +$20,169 |
| Step 4 | $91,740 | $3,528.46 | $43.96 | +$20,800 |
| Step 5 | $94,520 | $3,635.38 | $45.29 | +$21,430 |
| Step 6 | $97,300 | $3,742.31 | $46.62 | +$22,060 |
| Step 7 | $100,081 | $3,849.27 | $47.95 | +$22,691 |
| Step 8 | $102,861 | $3,956.19 | $49.29 | +$23,321 |
| Step 9 | $105,642 | $4,063.15 | $50.62 | +$23,952 |
| Step 10 | $108,422 | $4,170.08 | $51.95 | +$24,582 |
2019 GS-12 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-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $83,398 | $3,207.62 | $39.96 | +$18,908 |
| Step 2 | $86,179 | $3,314.58 | $41.29 | +$19,539 |
| Step 3 | $88,959 | $3,421.50 | $42.63 | +$20,169 |
| Step 4 | $91,740 | $3,528.46 | $43.96 | +$20,800 |
| Step 5 | $94,520 | $3,635.38 | $45.29 | +$21,430 |
| Step 6 | $97,300 | $3,742.31 | $46.62 | +$22,060 |
| Step 7 | $100,081 | $3,849.27 | $47.95 | +$22,691 |
| Step 8 | $102,861 | $3,956.19 | $49.29 | +$23,321 |
| Step 9 | $105,642 | $4,063.15 | $50.62 | +$23,952 |
| Step 10 | $108,422 | $4,170.08 | $51.95 | +$24,582 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 29.32% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,208 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,170. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-12 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Washington DC?
In 2019, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $83,398 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $108,422. This is 29.32% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,908 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,208 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.