2019 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 29.32% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $76,687 on the base table to $99,172 in Washington DC.
2019 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $99,172 | $3,814.31 | $47.52 | +$22,485 |
| Step 2 | $102,477 | $3,941.42 | $49.10 | +$23,234 |
| Step 3 | $105,782 | $4,068.54 | $50.69 | +$23,983 |
| Step 4 | $109,088 | $4,195.69 | $52.27 | +$24,733 |
| Step 5 | $112,393 | $4,322.81 | $53.85 | +$25,482 |
| Step 6 | $115,699 | $4,449.96 | $55.44 | +$26,232 |
| Step 7 | $119,004 | $4,577.08 | $57.02 | +$26,981 |
| Step 8 | $122,310 | $4,704.23 | $58.61 | +$27,731 |
| Step 9 | $125,615 | $4,831.35 | $60.19 | +$28,480 |
| Step 10 | $128,920 | $4,958.46 | $61.77 | +$29,229 |
2019 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $99,172 | $3,814.31 | $47.52 | +$22,485 |
| Step 2 | $102,477 | $3,941.42 | $49.10 | +$23,234 |
| Step 3 | $105,782 | $4,068.54 | $50.69 | +$23,983 |
| Step 4 | $109,088 | $4,195.69 | $52.27 | +$24,733 |
| Step 5 | $112,393 | $4,322.81 | $53.85 | +$25,482 |
| Step 6 | $115,699 | $4,449.96 | $55.44 | +$26,232 |
| Step 7 | $119,004 | $4,577.08 | $57.02 | +$26,981 |
| Step 8 | $122,310 | $4,704.23 | $58.61 | +$27,731 |
| Step 9 | $125,615 | $4,831.35 | $60.19 | +$28,480 |
| Step 10 | $128,920 | $4,958.46 | $61.77 | +$29,229 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 29.32% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,814 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,958. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2019, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $99,172 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $128,920. This is 29.32% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,485 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,814 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.