2020 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $78,681 on the base table to $102,663 in Washington DC.
2020 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $102,663 | $3,948.58 | $49.19 | +$23,982 |
| Step 2 | $106,085 | $4,080.19 | $50.83 | +$24,781 |
| Step 3 | $109,508 | $4,211.85 | $52.47 | +$25,581 |
| Step 4 | $112,930 | $4,343.46 | $54.11 | +$26,380 |
| Step 5 | $116,353 | $4,475.12 | $55.75 | +$27,180 |
| Step 6 | $119,775 | $4,606.73 | $57.39 | +$27,979 |
| Step 7 | $123,198 | $4,738.38 | $59.03 | +$28,779 |
| Step 8 | $126,620 | $4,870.00 | $60.67 | +$29,578 |
| Step 9 | $130,043 | $5,001.65 | $62.31 | +$30,378 |
| Step 10 | $133,465 | $5,133.27 | $63.95 | +$31,177 |
2020 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $102,663 | $3,948.58 | $49.19 | +$23,982 |
| Step 2 | $106,085 | $4,080.19 | $50.83 | +$24,781 |
| Step 3 | $109,508 | $4,211.85 | $52.47 | +$25,581 |
| Step 4 | $112,930 | $4,343.46 | $54.11 | +$26,380 |
| Step 5 | $116,353 | $4,475.12 | $55.75 | +$27,180 |
| Step 6 | $119,775 | $4,606.73 | $57.39 | +$27,979 |
| Step 7 | $123,198 | $4,738.38 | $59.03 | +$28,779 |
| Step 8 | $126,620 | $4,870.00 | $60.67 | +$29,578 |
| Step 9 | $130,043 | $5,001.65 | $62.31 | +$30,378 |
| Step 10 | $133,465 | $5,133.27 | $63.95 | +$31,177 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,949 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,133. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2020, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $102,663 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $133,465. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,982 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,949 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.