2021 GS-12 Pay in PHILADELPHIA
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 26.04% 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 $84,231 in PHILADELPHIA.
2021 GS-12 Pay in PHILADELPHIA
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $84,231 | $3,239.65 | $40.36 | +$17,402 |
| Step 2 | $87,039 | $3,347.65 | $41.71 | +$17,982 |
| Step 3 | $89,848 | $3,455.69 | $43.05 | +$18,563 |
| Step 4 | $92,656 | $3,563.69 | $44.40 | +$19,143 |
| Step 5 | $95,464 | $3,671.69 | $45.74 | +$19,723 |
| Step 6 | $98,272 | $3,779.69 | $47.09 | +$20,303 |
| Step 7 | $101,080 | $3,887.69 | $48.43 | +$20,883 |
| Step 8 | $103,888 | $3,995.69 | $49.78 | +$21,463 |
| Step 9 | $106,697 | $4,103.73 | $51.12 | +$22,044 |
| Step 10 | $109,505 | $4,211.73 | $52.47 | +$22,624 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for PHILADELPHIA
Each step below already includes the 26.04% 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 | $84,231 | $3,239.65 | $40.36 | +$17,402 |
| Step 2 | $87,039 | $3,347.65 | $41.71 | +$17,982 |
| Step 3 | $89,848 | $3,455.69 | $43.05 | +$18,563 |
| Step 4 | $92,656 | $3,563.69 | $44.40 | +$19,143 |
| Step 5 | $95,464 | $3,671.69 | $45.74 | +$19,723 |
| Step 6 | $98,272 | $3,779.69 | $47.09 | +$20,303 |
| Step 7 | $101,080 | $3,887.69 | $48.43 | +$20,883 |
| Step 8 | $103,888 | $3,995.69 | $49.78 | +$21,463 |
| Step 9 | $106,697 | $4,103.73 | $51.12 | +$22,044 |
| Step 10 | $109,505 | $4,211.73 | $52.47 | +$22,624 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more PHILADELPHIA pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in PHILADELPHIA: 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 PHILADELPHIA pay area adds a 26.04% 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 PHILADELPHIA
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $3,240 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,212. 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 PHILADELPHIA page.
Other grades in PHILADELPHIA
GS-12 in PHILADELPHIA questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in PHILADELPHIA?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns $84,231 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $109,505. This is 26.04% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in PHILADELPHIA?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHILADELPHIA in 2021, it is 26.04%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,402 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in PHILADELPHIA?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $3,240 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.