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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$111,286 GS-13 Step 1 in San Francisco (2020)
$144,676 GS-13 Step 10 in San Francisco (2020)
+$32,605 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-13 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-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $111,286 $4,280.23 $53.32 +$32,605
Step 2 $114,996 $4,422.92 $55.10 +$33,692
Step 3 $118,706 $4,565.62 $56.88 +$34,779
Step 4 $122,416 $4,708.31 $58.66 +$35,866
Step 5 $126,126 $4,851.00 $60.43 +$36,953
Step 6 $129,836 $4,993.69 $62.21 +$38,040
Step 7 $133,546 $5,136.38 $63.99 +$39,127
Step 8 $137,256 $5,279.08 $65.77 +$40,214
Step 9 $140,966 $5,421.77 $67.54 +$41,301
Step 10 $144,676 $5,564.46 $69.32 +$42,388
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $78,681
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 1 $111,286
  • Locality add-on +$32,605
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $102,288
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 10 $144,676

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-13 in San Francisco: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2020, the San Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,280 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,564. 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-13 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-13 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in San Francisco?
    In 2020, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $111,286 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $144,676. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $32,605 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,280 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.