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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$29,280 GS-3 Step 1 in PHILADELPHIA (2019)
$38,065 GS-3 Step 10 in PHILADELPHIA (2019)
+$5,912 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-3 pay table for PHILADELPHIA

Each step below already includes the 25.30% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $29,280 $1,126.15 $14.03 +$5,912
Step 2 $30,256 $1,163.69 $14.50 +$6,109
Step 3 $31,232 $1,201.23 $14.97 +$6,306
Step 4 $32,208 $1,238.77 $15.43 +$6,503
Step 5 $33,184 $1,276.31 $15.90 +$6,700
Step 6 $34,161 $1,313.88 $16.37 +$6,898
Step 7 $35,137 $1,351.42 $16.84 +$7,095
Step 8 $36,113 $1,388.96 $17.30 +$7,292
Step 9 $37,089 $1,426.50 $17.77 +$7,489
Step 10 $38,065 $1,464.04 $18.24 +$7,686
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more PHILADELPHIA pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $23,368
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-3 Step 1 $29,280
  • Locality add-on +$5,912
  • Adjustment percent 25.30%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $30,379
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-3 Step 10 $38,065

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-3 in PHILADELPHIA: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2019, the PHILADELPHIA pay area adds a 25.30% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in PHILADELPHIA

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,126 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,464. 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-3 PHILADELPHIA page.

Other grades in PHILADELPHIA

GS-3 in PHILADELPHIA questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in PHILADELPHIA?
    In 2019, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns $29,280 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $38,065. This is 25.30% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in PHILADELPHIA?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHILADELPHIA in 2019, it is 25.30%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,912 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in PHILADELPHIA?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,126 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.