2019 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2019 is $106,595 at Step 1, rising to $138,572 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2019.
2019 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2019.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,595 | $4,099.81 | $51.08 | - |
| Step 2 | $110,148 | $4,236.46 | $52.78 | - |
| Step 3 | $113,701 | $4,373.12 | $54.48 | - |
| Step 4 | $117,254 | $4,509.77 | $56.18 | - |
| Step 5 | $120,807 | $4,646.42 | $57.89 | - |
| Step 6 | $124,360 | $4,783.08 | $59.59 | - |
| Step 7 | $127,913 | $4,919.73 | $61.29 | - |
| Step 8 | $131,466 | $5,056.38 | $62.99 | - |
| Step 9 | $135,019 | $5,193.04 | $64.70 | - |
| Step 10 | $138,572 | $5,329.69 | $66.40 | - |
2019 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2019, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,595 | $4,099.81 | $51.08 | - |
| Step 2 | $110,148 | $4,236.46 | $52.78 | - |
| Step 3 | $113,701 | $4,373.12 | $54.48 | - |
| Step 4 | $117,254 | $4,509.77 | $56.18 | - |
| Step 5 | $120,807 | $4,646.42 | $57.89 | - |
| Step 6 | $124,360 | $4,783.08 | $59.59 | - |
| Step 7 | $127,913 | $4,919.73 | $61.29 | - |
| Step 8 | $131,466 | $5,056.38 | $62.99 | - |
| Step 9 | $135,019 | $5,193.04 | $64.70 | - |
| Step 10 | $138,572 | $5,329.69 | $66.40 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2019, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 40.35% | $149,606 | $166,500 |
| New York-Newark | 33.06% | $141,835 | $166,500 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 32.54% | $141,281 | $166,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 31.47% | $140,140 | $166,500 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 29.32% | $137,849 | $166,500 |
| State of Alaska | 28.89% | $137,390 | $166,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 28.87% | $137,369 | $166,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 28.80% | $137,294 | $166,500 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 28.27% | $136,729 | $166,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.05% | $136,495 | $166,500 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 26.81% | $135,173 | $166,500 |
| Denver-Aurora | 26.30% | $134,629 | $166,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 26.04% | $134,352 | $166,500 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 25.59% | $133,873 | $166,500 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 25.30% | $133,564 | $166,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.21% | $132,402 | $166,500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.00% | $132,178 | $166,500 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.13% | $131,250 | $166,500 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.12% | $131,240 | $166,500 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 21.64% | $129,662 | $166,500 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.58% | $128,532 | $166,500 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.45% | $128,394 | $166,500 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.21% | $128,138 | $166,500 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.99% | $127,903 | $166,273 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 19.67% | $127,562 | $165,829 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 19.60% | $127,488 | $165,732 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 19.47% | $127,349 | $165,552 |
| Richmond | 19.38% | $127,253 | $165,427 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.18% | $127,040 | $165,150 |
| State of Hawaii | 18.98% | $126,827 | $164,873 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 18.86% | $126,699 | $164,707 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 18.61% | $126,432 | $164,360 |
| Laredo | 18.22% | $126,017 | $163,820 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 17.46% | $125,206 | $162,767 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.19% | $124,919 | $162,393 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.19% | $124,919 | $162,393 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.05% | $124,769 | $162,199 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.04% | $124,759 | $162,185 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 16.79% | $124,492 | $161,838 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 16.68% | $124,375 | $161,686 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 16.65% | $124,343 | $161,644 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 16.60% | $124,290 | $161,575 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.57% | $124,258 | $161,533 |
| Davenport-Moline | 16.49% | $124,173 | $161,423 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.33% | $124,002 | $161,201 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.20% | $123,863 | $161,021 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.18% | $123,842 | $160,993 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.07% | $123,725 | $160,841 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.01% | $123,661 | $160,757 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 15.91% | $123,554 | $160,619 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 15.87% | $123,512 | $160,563 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 15.77% | $123,405 | $160,425 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.67% | $123,298 | $160,286 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2019
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2019 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2019
GS-15 questions for 2019
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2019?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2019 is $106,595 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2019 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 40.35%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.