2020 GS-12 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-12 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 29.77% 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 $85,865 in SAN DIEGO.
2020 GS-12 Pay in SAN DIEGO
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $85,865 | $3,302.50 | $41.14 | +$19,698 |
| Step 2 | $88,728 | $3,412.62 | $42.51 | +$20,355 |
| Step 3 | $91,590 | $3,522.69 | $43.89 | +$21,011 |
| Step 4 | $94,453 | $3,632.81 | $45.26 | +$21,668 |
| Step 5 | $97,316 | $3,742.92 | $46.63 | +$22,325 |
| Step 6 | $100,179 | $3,853.04 | $48.00 | +$22,982 |
| Step 7 | $103,041 | $3,963.12 | $49.37 | +$23,638 |
| Step 8 | $105,904 | $4,073.23 | $50.74 | +$24,295 |
| Step 9 | $108,767 | $4,183.35 | $52.12 | +$24,952 |
| Step 10 | $111,629 | $4,293.42 | $53.49 | +$25,608 |
2020 GS-12 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 29.77% 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 | $85,865 | $3,302.50 | $41.14 | +$19,698 |
| Step 2 | $88,728 | $3,412.62 | $42.51 | +$20,355 |
| Step 3 | $91,590 | $3,522.69 | $43.89 | +$21,011 |
| Step 4 | $94,453 | $3,632.81 | $45.26 | +$21,668 |
| Step 5 | $97,316 | $3,742.92 | $46.63 | +$22,325 |
| Step 6 | $100,179 | $3,853.04 | $48.00 | +$22,982 |
| Step 7 | $103,041 | $3,963.12 | $49.37 | +$23,638 |
| Step 8 | $105,904 | $4,073.23 | $50.74 | +$24,295 |
| Step 9 | $108,767 | $4,183.35 | $52.12 | +$24,952 |
| Step 10 | $111,629 | $4,293.42 | $53.49 | +$25,608 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SAN DIEGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in SAN DIEGO: 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 SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% 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 SAN DIEGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $3,303 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,293. 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 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-12 in SAN DIEGO questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2020, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $85,865 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $111,629. This is 29.77% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in SAN DIEGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2020, it is 29.77%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,698 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in SAN DIEGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $3,303 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.