2019 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.67% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $106,595 on the base table to $123,298 in Rest of U.S..
2019 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $123,298 | $4,742.23 | $59.08 | +$16,703 |
| Step 2 | $127,408 | $4,900.31 | $61.05 | +$17,260 |
| Step 3 | $131,518 | $5,058.38 | $63.02 | +$17,817 |
| Step 4 | $135,628 | $5,216.46 | $64.99 | +$18,374 |
| Step 5 | $139,737 | $5,374.50 | $66.96 | +$18,930 |
| Step 6 | $143,847 | $5,532.58 | $68.93 | +$19,487 |
| Step 7 | $147,957 | $5,690.65 | $70.89 | +$20,044 |
| Step 8 | $152,067 | $5,848.73 | $72.86 | +$20,601 |
| Step 9 | $156,176 | $6,006.77 | $74.83 | +$21,157 |
| Step 10 | $160,286 | $6,164.85 | $76.80 | +$21,714 |
2019 GS-15 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.67% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $123,298 | $4,742.23 | $59.08 | +$16,703 |
| Step 2 | $127,408 | $4,900.31 | $61.05 | +$17,260 |
| Step 3 | $131,518 | $5,058.38 | $63.02 | +$17,817 |
| Step 4 | $135,628 | $5,216.46 | $64.99 | +$18,374 |
| Step 5 | $139,737 | $5,374.50 | $66.96 | +$18,930 |
| Step 6 | $143,847 | $5,532.58 | $68.93 | +$19,487 |
| Step 7 | $147,957 | $5,690.65 | $70.89 | +$20,044 |
| Step 8 | $152,067 | $5,848.73 | $72.86 | +$20,601 |
| Step 9 | $156,176 | $6,006.77 | $74.83 | +$21,157 |
| Step 10 | $160,286 | $6,164.85 | $76.80 | +$21,714 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2019, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.67% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,742 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,165. 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-15 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 in Rest of U.S. questions
-
How much does a GS-15 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2019, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $123,298 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $160,286. This is 15.67% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2019, it is 15.67%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,703 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,742 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.