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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$27,975 GS-3 Step 1 in ALBUQUERQUE (2020)
$36,366 GS-3 Step 10 in ALBUQUERQUE (2020)
+$3,999 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-3 pay table for ALBUQUERQUE

Each step below already includes the 16.68% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $27,975 $1,075.96 $13.40 +$3,999
Step 2 $28,907 $1,111.81 $13.85 +$4,132
Step 3 $29,840 $1,147.69 $14.30 +$4,266
Step 4 $30,772 $1,183.54 $14.74 +$4,399
Step 5 $31,704 $1,219.38 $15.19 +$4,532
Step 6 $32,637 $1,255.27 $15.64 +$4,666
Step 7 $33,569 $1,291.12 $16.08 +$4,799
Step 8 $34,501 $1,326.96 $16.53 +$4,932
Step 9 $35,433 $1,362.81 $16.98 +$5,065
Step 10 $36,366 $1,398.69 $17.43 +$5,199
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more ALBUQUERQUE pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $23,976
  • ALBUQUERQUE GS-3 Step 1 $27,975
  • Locality add-on +$3,999
  • Adjustment percent 16.68%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $31,167
  • ALBUQUERQUE GS-3 Step 10 $36,366

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-3 in ALBUQUERQUE: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2020, the ALBUQUERQUE pay area adds a 16.68% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in ALBUQUERQUE

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in ALBUQUERQUE earns roughly $1,076 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,399. 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-3 ALBUQUERQUE page.

Other grades in ALBUQUERQUE

GS-3 in ALBUQUERQUE questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in ALBUQUERQUE?
    In 2020, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in ALBUQUERQUE earns $27,975 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $36,366. This is 16.68% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in ALBUQUERQUE?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For ALBUQUERQUE in 2020, it is 16.68%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $3,999 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in ALBUQUERQUE?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in ALBUQUERQUE earns roughly $1,076 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.