2020 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% 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 $86,335 in Washington DC.
2020 GS-12 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $86,335 | $3,320.58 | $41.37 | +$20,168 |
| Step 2 | $89,213 | $3,431.27 | $42.75 | +$20,840 |
| Step 3 | $92,091 | $3,541.96 | $44.13 | +$21,512 |
| Step 4 | $94,970 | $3,652.69 | $45.51 | +$22,185 |
| Step 5 | $97,848 | $3,763.38 | $46.88 | +$22,857 |
| Step 6 | $100,727 | $3,874.12 | $48.26 | +$23,530 |
| Step 7 | $103,605 | $3,984.81 | $49.64 | +$24,202 |
| Step 8 | $106,483 | $4,095.50 | $51.02 | +$24,874 |
| Step 9 | $109,362 | $4,206.23 | $52.40 | +$25,547 |
| Step 10 | $112,240 | $4,316.92 | $53.78 | +$26,219 |
2020 GS-12 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $86,335 | $3,320.58 | $41.37 | +$20,168 |
| Step 2 | $89,213 | $3,431.27 | $42.75 | +$20,840 |
| Step 3 | $92,091 | $3,541.96 | $44.13 | +$21,512 |
| Step 4 | $94,970 | $3,652.69 | $45.51 | +$22,185 |
| Step 5 | $97,848 | $3,763.38 | $46.88 | +$22,857 |
| Step 6 | $100,727 | $3,874.12 | $48.26 | +$23,530 |
| Step 7 | $103,605 | $3,984.81 | $49.64 | +$24,202 |
| Step 8 | $106,483 | $4,095.50 | $51.02 | +$24,874 |
| Step 9 | $109,362 | $4,206.23 | $52.40 | +$25,547 |
| Step 10 | $112,240 | $4,316.92 | $53.78 | +$26,219 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,321 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,317. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-12 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Washington DC?
In 2020, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $86,335 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $112,240. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2020, it is 30.48%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,168 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,321 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.