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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$78,861 GS-11 Step 1 in San Francisco (2021)
$102,526 GS-11 Step 10 in San Francisco (2021)
+$23,105 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-11 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 41.44% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $78,861 $3,033.12 $37.79 +$23,105
Step 2 $81,491 $3,134.27 $39.05 +$23,876
Step 3 $84,120 $3,235.38 $40.31 +$24,646
Step 4 $86,749 $3,336.50 $41.57 +$25,416
Step 5 $89,379 $3,437.65 $42.83 +$26,187
Step 6 $92,008 $3,538.77 $44.09 +$26,957
Step 7 $94,638 $3,639.92 $45.35 +$27,728
Step 8 $97,267 $3,741.04 $46.61 +$28,498
Step 9 $99,896 $3,842.15 $47.87 +$29,268
Step 10 $102,526 $3,943.31 $49.13 +$30,039
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $55,756
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 1 $78,861
  • Locality add-on +$23,105
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $72,487
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 10 $102,526

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-11 in San Francisco: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2021, the San Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 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-11 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,033 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,943. 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-11 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-11 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in San Francisco?
    In 2021, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $78,861 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $102,526. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2021, it is 41.44%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,105 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,033 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.