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

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$96,856 GS-13 Step 1 in DENVER (2019)
$125,910 GS-13 Step 10 in DENVER (2019)
+$20,169 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-13 pay table for DENVER

Each step below already includes the 26.30% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $96,856 $3,725.23 $46.41 +$20,169
Step 2 $100,084 $3,849.38 $47.96 +$20,841
Step 3 $103,312 $3,973.54 $49.50 +$21,513
Step 4 $106,540 $4,097.69 $51.05 +$22,185
Step 5 $109,769 $4,221.88 $52.60 +$22,858
Step 6 $112,997 $4,346.04 $54.14 +$23,530
Step 7 $116,225 $4,470.19 $55.69 +$24,202
Step 8 $119,453 $4,594.35 $57.24 +$24,874
Step 9 $122,682 $4,718.54 $58.78 +$25,547
Step 10 $125,910 $4,842.69 $60.33 +$26,219

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more DENVER pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $76,687
  • DENVER GS-13 Step 1 $96,856
  • Locality add-on +$20,169
  • Adjustment percent 26.30%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $99,691
  • DENVER GS-13 Step 10 $125,910

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-13 in DENVER: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2019, the DENVER pay area adds a 26.30% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in DENVER

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $3,725 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,843. 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-13 DENVER page.

Other grades in DENVER

GS-13 in DENVER questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in DENVER?
    In 2019, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns $96,856 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $125,910. This is 26.30% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in DENVER?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DENVER in 2019, it is 26.30%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,169 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in DENVER?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $3,725 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.