2021 GS-1 Pay in Washington DC
GS-1 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% on top of the base GS-1 pay scale. That means a GS-1 Step 1 salary jumps from $19,738 on the base table to $25,754 in Washington DC.
2021 GS-1 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-1 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $25,754 | $990.54 | $12.34 | +$6,016 |
| Step 2 | $26,618 | $1,023.77 | $12.75 | +$6,218 |
| Step 3 | $27,474 | $1,056.69 | $13.16 | +$6,418 |
| Step 4 | $28,326 | $1,089.46 | $13.57 | +$6,617 |
| Step 5 | $29,182 | $1,122.38 | $13.98 | +$6,817 |
| Step 6 | $29,683 | $1,141.65 | $14.22 | +$6,934 |
| Step 7 | $30,530 | $1,174.23 | $14.63 | +$7,132 |
| Step 8 | $31,383 | $1,207.04 | $15.04 | +$7,331 |
| Step 9 | $31,417 | $1,208.35 | $15.05 | +$7,339 |
| Step 10 | $32,216 | $1,239.08 | $15.44 | +$7,526 |
2021 GS-1 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-1 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $25,754 | $990.54 | $12.34 | +$6,016 |
| Step 2 | $26,618 | $1,023.77 | $12.75 | +$6,218 |
| Step 3 | $27,474 | $1,056.69 | $13.16 | +$6,418 |
| Step 4 | $28,326 | $1,089.46 | $13.57 | +$6,617 |
| Step 5 | $29,182 | $1,122.38 | $13.98 | +$6,817 |
| Step 6 | $29,683 | $1,141.65 | $14.22 | +$6,934 |
| Step 7 | $30,530 | $1,174.23 | $14.63 | +$7,132 |
| Step 8 | $31,383 | $1,207.04 | $15.04 | +$7,331 |
| Step 9 | $31,417 | $1,208.35 | $15.05 | +$7,339 |
| Step 10 | $32,216 | $1,239.08 | $15.44 | +$7,526 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-1 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level clerical, labor and support positions. GS-1 is rarely used today; most entry roles now start at GS-2 or GS-3.
For 2021, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-1 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. No formal education or experience required. Generally filled by workers with basic literacy and ability to follow simple instructions.
Promotion path. Promotion to GS-2 typically follows one year of satisfactory service.
The rough military equivalent for GS-1 is E-2 Private Second Class, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-1 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-1 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $991 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,239. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-1 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-1 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-1 make in Washington DC?
In 2021, a GS-1 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $25,754 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $32,216. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-1 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-1 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2021, it is 30.48%. On a GS-1 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,016 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-1 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-1 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $991 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.