2020 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.95% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $66,167 on the base table to $76,721 in Rest of U.S..
2020 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $76,721 | $2,950.81 | $36.76 | +$10,554 |
| Step 2 | $79,278 | $3,049.15 | $37.99 | +$10,905 |
| Step 3 | $81,836 | $3,147.54 | $39.21 | +$11,257 |
| Step 4 | $84,394 | $3,245.92 | $40.44 | +$11,609 |
| Step 5 | $86,952 | $3,344.31 | $41.66 | +$11,961 |
| Step 6 | $89,510 | $3,442.69 | $42.89 | +$12,313 |
| Step 7 | $92,068 | $3,541.08 | $44.11 | +$12,665 |
| Step 8 | $94,626 | $3,639.46 | $45.34 | +$13,017 |
| Step 9 | $97,183 | $3,737.81 | $46.57 | +$13,368 |
| Step 10 | $99,741 | $3,836.19 | $47.79 | +$13,720 |
2020 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.95% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $76,721 | $2,950.81 | $36.76 | +$10,554 |
| Step 2 | $79,278 | $3,049.15 | $37.99 | +$10,905 |
| Step 3 | $81,836 | $3,147.54 | $39.21 | +$11,257 |
| Step 4 | $84,394 | $3,245.92 | $40.44 | +$11,609 |
| Step 5 | $86,952 | $3,344.31 | $41.66 | +$11,961 |
| Step 6 | $89,510 | $3,442.69 | $42.89 | +$12,313 |
| Step 7 | $92,068 | $3,541.08 | $44.11 | +$12,665 |
| Step 8 | $94,626 | $3,639.46 | $45.34 | +$13,017 |
| Step 9 | $97,183 | $3,737.81 | $46.57 | +$13,368 |
| Step 10 | $99,741 | $3,836.19 | $47.79 | +$13,720 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2020, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 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-12 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,951 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,836. 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-12 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2020, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $76,721 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $99,741. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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 2020, it is 15.95%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,554 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,951 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.