2021 GS-12 Pay in BOSTON
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 29.11% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $66,829 on the base table to $86,283 in BOSTON.
2021 GS-12 Pay in BOSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $86,283 | $3,318.58 | $41.34 | +$19,454 |
| Step 2 | $89,159 | $3,429.19 | $42.72 | +$20,102 |
| Step 3 | $92,036 | $3,539.85 | $44.10 | +$20,751 |
| Step 4 | $94,913 | $3,650.50 | $45.48 | +$21,400 |
| Step 5 | $97,789 | $3,761.12 | $46.86 | +$22,048 |
| Step 6 | $100,666 | $3,871.77 | $48.23 | +$22,697 |
| Step 7 | $103,542 | $3,982.38 | $49.61 | +$23,345 |
| Step 8 | $106,419 | $4,093.04 | $50.99 | +$23,994 |
| Step 9 | $109,295 | $4,203.65 | $52.37 | +$24,642 |
| Step 10 | $112,172 | $4,314.31 | $53.75 | +$25,291 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for BOSTON
Each step below already includes the 29.11% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $86,283 | $3,318.58 | $41.34 | +$19,454 |
| Step 2 | $89,159 | $3,429.19 | $42.72 | +$20,102 |
| Step 3 | $92,036 | $3,539.85 | $44.10 | +$20,751 |
| Step 4 | $94,913 | $3,650.50 | $45.48 | +$21,400 |
| Step 5 | $97,789 | $3,761.12 | $46.86 | +$22,048 |
| Step 6 | $100,666 | $3,871.77 | $48.23 | +$22,697 |
| Step 7 | $103,542 | $3,982.38 | $49.61 | +$23,345 |
| Step 8 | $106,419 | $4,093.04 | $50.99 | +$23,994 |
| Step 9 | $109,295 | $4,203.65 | $52.37 | +$24,642 |
| Step 10 | $112,172 | $4,314.31 | $53.75 | +$25,291 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more BOSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in BOSTON: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2021, the BOSTON pay area adds a 29.11% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in BOSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $3,319 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,314. 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-12 BOSTON page.
Other grades in BOSTON
GS-12 in BOSTON questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in BOSTON?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns $86,283 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $112,172. This is 29.11% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in BOSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BOSTON in 2021, it is 29.11%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,454 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in BOSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $3,319 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.