2021 GS-12 Pay in LOS ANGELES
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 32.41% 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 $88,488 in LOS ANGELES.
2021 GS-12 Pay in LOS ANGELES
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,488 | $3,403.38 | $42.40 | +$21,659 |
| Step 2 | $91,438 | $3,516.85 | $43.81 | +$22,381 |
| Step 3 | $94,388 | $3,630.31 | $45.23 | +$23,103 |
| Step 4 | $97,339 | $3,743.81 | $46.64 | +$23,826 |
| Step 5 | $100,289 | $3,857.27 | $48.05 | +$24,548 |
| Step 6 | $103,239 | $3,970.73 | $49.47 | +$25,270 |
| Step 7 | $106,189 | $4,084.19 | $50.88 | +$25,992 |
| Step 8 | $109,139 | $4,197.65 | $52.29 | +$26,714 |
| Step 9 | $112,089 | $4,311.12 | $53.71 | +$27,436 |
| Step 10 | $115,039 | $4,424.58 | $55.12 | +$28,158 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for LOS ANGELES
Each step below already includes the 32.41% 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 | $88,488 | $3,403.38 | $42.40 | +$21,659 |
| Step 2 | $91,438 | $3,516.85 | $43.81 | +$22,381 |
| Step 3 | $94,388 | $3,630.31 | $45.23 | +$23,103 |
| Step 4 | $97,339 | $3,743.81 | $46.64 | +$23,826 |
| Step 5 | $100,289 | $3,857.27 | $48.05 | +$24,548 |
| Step 6 | $103,239 | $3,970.73 | $49.47 | +$25,270 |
| Step 7 | $106,189 | $4,084.19 | $50.88 | +$25,992 |
| Step 8 | $109,139 | $4,197.65 | $52.29 | +$26,714 |
| Step 9 | $112,089 | $4,311.12 | $53.71 | +$27,436 |
| Step 10 | $115,039 | $4,424.58 | $55.12 | +$28,158 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more LOS ANGELES pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in LOS ANGELES: 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 LOS ANGELES pay area adds a 32.41% 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 LOS ANGELES
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns roughly $3,403 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,425. 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 LOS ANGELES page.
Other grades in LOS ANGELES
GS-12 in LOS ANGELES questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in LOS ANGELES?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns $88,488 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $115,039. This is 32.41% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in LOS ANGELES?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For LOS ANGELES in 2021, it is 32.41%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,659 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in LOS ANGELES?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns roughly $3,403 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.