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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$66,216 GS-10 Step 1 in Washington DC (2021)
$86,085 GS-10 Step 10 in Washington DC (2021)
+$15,468 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-10 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-10 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $66,216 $2,546.77 $31.73 +$15,468
Step 2 $68,424 $2,631.69 $32.79 +$15,984
Step 3 $70,631 $2,716.58 $33.84 +$16,499
Step 4 $72,839 $2,801.50 $34.90 +$17,015
Step 5 $75,047 $2,886.42 $35.96 +$17,531
Step 6 $77,255 $2,971.35 $37.02 +$18,047
Step 7 $79,462 $3,056.23 $38.07 +$18,562
Step 8 $81,670 $3,141.15 $39.13 +$19,078
Step 9 $83,878 $3,226.08 $40.19 +$19,594
Step 10 $86,085 $3,310.96 $41.25 +$20,109
← GS-9 Calculate my take-home GS-11 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-10 Step 1 $50,748
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 1 $66,216
  • Locality add-on +$15,468
  • Adjustment percent 30.48%
  • Base GS-10 Step 10 $65,976
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 10 $86,085

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-10 in Washington DC: what to expect

Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.

For 2021, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,547 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,311. 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-10 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-10 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-10 make in Washington DC?
    In 2021, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $66,216 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $86,085. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-10 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 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-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,468 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,547 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.