2020 GS-15 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 27.02% 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 $138,917 in SEATTLE.
2020 GS-15 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $138,917 | $5,342.96 | $66.56 | +$29,551 |
| Step 2 | $143,548 | $5,521.08 | $68.78 | +$30,536 |
| Step 3 | $148,179 | $5,699.19 | $71.00 | +$31,521 |
| Step 4 | $152,810 | $5,877.31 | $73.22 | +$32,506 |
| Step 5 | $157,441 | $6,055.42 | $75.44 | +$33,491 |
| Step 6 | $162,072 | $6,233.54 | $77.66 | +$34,476 |
| Step 7 | $166,704 | $6,411.69 | $79.88 | +$35,462 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
2020 GS-15 pay table for SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 27.02% 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 | $138,917 | $5,342.96 | $66.56 | +$29,551 |
| Step 2 | $143,548 | $5,521.08 | $68.78 | +$30,536 |
| Step 3 | $148,179 | $5,699.19 | $71.00 | +$31,521 |
| Step 4 | $152,810 | $5,877.31 | $73.22 | +$32,506 |
| Step 5 | $157,441 | $6,055.42 | $75.44 | +$33,491 |
| Step 6 | $162,072 | $6,233.54 | $77.66 | +$34,476 |
| Step 7 | $166,704 | $6,411.69 | $79.88 | +$35,462 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 27.02% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $5,343 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,569. 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-15 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in SEATTLE?
In 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $138,917 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,800. This is 27.02% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2020, it is 27.02%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,551 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $5,343 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.