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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$78,081 GS-11 Step 1 in San Francisco (2020)
$101,503 GS-11 Step 10 in San Francisco (2020)
+$22,877 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-11 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 41.44% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $78,081 $3,003.12 $37.41 +$22,877
Step 2 $80,683 $3,103.19 $38.66 +$23,639
Step 3 $83,286 $3,203.31 $39.91 +$24,402
Step 4 $85,888 $3,303.38 $41.15 +$25,164
Step 5 $88,491 $3,403.50 $42.40 +$25,927
Step 6 $91,093 $3,503.58 $43.65 +$26,689
Step 7 $93,696 $3,603.69 $44.90 +$27,452
Step 8 $96,298 $3,703.77 $46.14 +$28,214
Step 9 $98,901 $3,803.88 $47.39 +$28,977
Step 10 $101,503 $3,903.96 $48.64 +$29,739
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $55,204
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 1 $78,081
  • Locality add-on +$22,877
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $71,764
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 10 $101,503

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-11 in San Francisco: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2020, the San Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,003 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,904. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2020 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-11 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in San Francisco?
    In 2020, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $78,081 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $101,503. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2020, it is 41.44%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,877 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,003 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.