2020 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.95% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $109,366 on the base table to $126,810 in Rest of U.S..
2020 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $126,810 | $4,877.31 | $60.76 | +$17,444 |
| Step 2 | $131,037 | $5,039.88 | $62.79 | +$18,025 |
| Step 3 | $135,265 | $5,202.50 | $64.81 | +$18,607 |
| Step 4 | $139,492 | $5,365.08 | $66.84 | +$19,188 |
| Step 5 | $143,720 | $5,527.69 | $68.86 | +$19,770 |
| Step 6 | $147,948 | $5,690.31 | $70.89 | +$20,352 |
| Step 7 | $152,175 | $5,852.88 | $72.92 | +$20,933 |
| Step 8 | $156,403 | $6,015.50 | $74.94 | +$21,515 |
| Step 9 | $160,630 | $6,178.08 | $76.97 | +$22,096 |
| Step 10 | $164,858 | $6,340.69 | $78.99 | +$22,678 |
2020 GS-15 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.95% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $126,810 | $4,877.31 | $60.76 | +$17,444 |
| Step 2 | $131,037 | $5,039.88 | $62.79 | +$18,025 |
| Step 3 | $135,265 | $5,202.50 | $64.81 | +$18,607 |
| Step 4 | $139,492 | $5,365.08 | $66.84 | +$19,188 |
| Step 5 | $143,720 | $5,527.69 | $68.86 | +$19,770 |
| Step 6 | $147,948 | $5,690.31 | $70.89 | +$20,352 |
| Step 7 | $152,175 | $5,852.88 | $72.92 | +$20,933 |
| Step 8 | $156,403 | $6,015.50 | $74.94 | +$21,515 |
| Step 9 | $160,630 | $6,178.08 | $76.97 | +$22,096 |
| Step 10 | $164,858 | $6,340.69 | $78.99 | +$22,678 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2020, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,877 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,341. 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-15 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $126,810 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,858. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2020, it is 15.95%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,444 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $4,877 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.