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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$107,630 GS-13 Step 1 in San Francisco (2019)
$139,916 GS-13 Step 10 in San Francisco (2019)
+$30,943 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-13 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 40.35% 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 $107,630 $4,139.62 $51.57 +$30,943
Step 2 $111,218 $4,277.62 $53.29 +$31,975
Step 3 $114,805 $4,415.58 $55.01 +$33,006
Step 4 $118,392 $4,553.54 $56.73 +$34,037
Step 5 $121,980 $4,691.54 $58.45 +$35,069
Step 6 $125,567 $4,829.50 $60.17 +$36,100
Step 7 $129,154 $4,967.46 $61.89 +$37,131
Step 8 $132,742 $5,105.46 $63.60 +$38,163
Step 9 $136,329 $5,243.42 $65.32 +$39,194
Step 10 $139,916 $5,381.38 $67.04 +$40,225
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $76,687
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 1 $107,630
  • Locality add-on +$30,943
  • Adjustment percent 40.35%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $99,691
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 10 $139,916

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 San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 40.35% 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 San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,140 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,381. 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 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-13 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in San Francisco?
    In 2019, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $107,630 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $139,916. This is 40.35% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2019, it is 40.35%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $30,943 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,140 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.