2021 GS-12 Pay in DENVER
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 27.13% 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 $84,960 in DENVER.
2021 GS-12 Pay in DENVER
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $84,960 | $3,267.69 | $40.71 | +$18,131 |
| Step 2 | $87,792 | $3,376.62 | $42.07 | +$18,735 |
| Step 3 | $90,625 | $3,485.58 | $43.42 | +$19,340 |
| Step 4 | $93,457 | $3,594.50 | $44.78 | +$19,944 |
| Step 5 | $96,290 | $3,703.46 | $46.14 | +$20,549 |
| Step 6 | $99,122 | $3,812.38 | $47.49 | +$21,153 |
| Step 7 | $101,954 | $3,921.31 | $48.85 | +$21,757 |
| Step 8 | $104,787 | $4,030.27 | $50.21 | +$22,362 |
| Step 9 | $107,619 | $4,139.19 | $51.57 | +$22,966 |
| Step 10 | $110,452 | $4,248.15 | $52.92 | +$23,571 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for DENVER
Each step below already includes the 27.13% 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 | $84,960 | $3,267.69 | $40.71 | +$18,131 |
| Step 2 | $87,792 | $3,376.62 | $42.07 | +$18,735 |
| Step 3 | $90,625 | $3,485.58 | $43.42 | +$19,340 |
| Step 4 | $93,457 | $3,594.50 | $44.78 | +$19,944 |
| Step 5 | $96,290 | $3,703.46 | $46.14 | +$20,549 |
| Step 6 | $99,122 | $3,812.38 | $47.49 | +$21,153 |
| Step 7 | $101,954 | $3,921.31 | $48.85 | +$21,757 |
| Step 8 | $104,787 | $4,030.27 | $50.21 | +$22,362 |
| Step 9 | $107,619 | $4,139.19 | $51.57 | +$22,966 |
| Step 10 | $110,452 | $4,248.15 | $52.92 | +$23,571 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more DENVER pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in DENVER: 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 DENVER pay area adds a 27.13% 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 DENVER
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $3,268 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,248. 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 DENVER page.
Other grades in DENVER
GS-12 in DENVER questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in DENVER?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns $84,960 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $110,452. This is 27.13% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in DENVER?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DENVER in 2021, it is 27.13%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,131 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in DENVER?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $3,268 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.