2020 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2020 is $109,366 at Step 1, rising to $142,180 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2020.
2020 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2020.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $109,366 | $4,206.38 | $52.40 | - |
| Step 2 | $113,012 | $4,346.62 | $54.15 | - |
| Step 3 | $116,658 | $4,486.85 | $55.90 | - |
| Step 4 | $120,304 | $4,627.08 | $57.64 | - |
| Step 5 | $123,950 | $4,767.31 | $59.39 | - |
| Step 6 | $127,596 | $4,907.54 | $61.14 | - |
| Step 7 | $131,242 | $5,047.77 | $62.89 | - |
| Step 8 | $134,888 | $5,188.00 | $64.63 | - |
| Step 9 | $138,534 | $5,328.23 | $66.38 | - |
| Step 10 | $142,180 | $5,468.46 | $68.13 | - |
2020 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2020, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $109,366 | $4,206.38 | $52.40 | - |
| Step 2 | $113,012 | $4,346.62 | $54.15 | - |
| Step 3 | $116,658 | $4,486.85 | $55.90 | - |
| Step 4 | $120,304 | $4,627.08 | $57.64 | - |
| Step 5 | $123,950 | $4,767.31 | $59.39 | - |
| Step 6 | $127,596 | $4,907.54 | $61.14 | - |
| Step 7 | $131,242 | $5,047.77 | $62.89 | - |
| Step 8 | $134,888 | $5,188.00 | $64.63 | - |
| Step 9 | $138,534 | $5,328.23 | $66.38 | - |
| Step 10 | $142,180 | $5,468.46 | $68.13 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2020, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 41.44% | $154,687 | $170,800 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $146,529 | $170,800 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $145,807 | $170,800 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $144,812 | $170,800 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $142,701 | $170,800 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $141,924 | $170,800 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $141,815 | $170,800 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $141,618 | $170,800 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $141,202 | $170,800 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $140,634 | $170,800 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $139,245 | $170,800 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $139,037 | $170,800 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $138,917 | $170,800 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $138,206 | $170,800 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $137,845 | $170,800 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $136,686 | $170,800 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $136,336 | $170,800 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $135,329 | $170,800 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $135,078 | $170,800 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $133,602 | $170,800 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $132,289 | $170,800 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $132,136 | $170,800 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $131,841 | $170,800 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $131,775 | $170,800 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $131,458 | $170,800 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $131,370 | $170,787 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $131,261 | $170,644 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $131,185 | $170,545 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $131,075 | $170,403 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $130,758 | $169,990 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $130,583 | $169,763 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $130,342 | $169,450 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $130,014 | $169,024 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $129,238 | $168,014 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $128,921 | $167,602 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $128,811 | $167,460 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $128,702 | $167,317 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $128,669 | $167,275 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $128,439 | $166,976 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $128,177 | $166,635 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $128,166 | $166,621 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $128,100 | $166,535 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $128,002 | $166,407 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $127,871 | $166,237 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $127,838 | $166,194 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $127,707 | $166,024 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $127,663 | $165,967 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $127,608 | $165,896 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $127,477 | $165,725 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $127,422 | $165,654 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $127,225 | $165,398 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $127,149 | $165,298 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $126,810 | $164,858 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2020
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2020 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2020
GS-15 questions for 2020
-
What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2020?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2020 is $109,366 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2020 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 41.44%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.