2021 GS-12 Pay in PHOENIX
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ earn 20.12% 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 $80,275 in PHOENIX.
2021 GS-12 Pay in PHOENIX
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $80,275 | $3,087.50 | $38.46 | +$13,446 |
| Step 2 | $82,951 | $3,190.42 | $39.75 | +$13,894 |
| Step 3 | $85,628 | $3,293.38 | $41.03 | +$14,343 |
| Step 4 | $88,304 | $3,396.31 | $42.31 | +$14,791 |
| Step 5 | $90,980 | $3,499.23 | $43.59 | +$15,239 |
| Step 6 | $93,656 | $3,602.15 | $44.88 | +$15,687 |
| Step 7 | $96,333 | $3,705.12 | $46.16 | +$16,136 |
| Step 8 | $99,009 | $3,808.04 | $47.44 | +$16,584 |
| Step 9 | $101,685 | $3,910.96 | $48.72 | +$17,032 |
| Step 10 | $104,361 | $4,013.88 | $50.01 | +$17,480 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for PHOENIX
Each step below already includes the 20.12% 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 | $80,275 | $3,087.50 | $38.46 | +$13,446 |
| Step 2 | $82,951 | $3,190.42 | $39.75 | +$13,894 |
| Step 3 | $85,628 | $3,293.38 | $41.03 | +$14,343 |
| Step 4 | $88,304 | $3,396.31 | $42.31 | +$14,791 |
| Step 5 | $90,980 | $3,499.23 | $43.59 | +$15,239 |
| Step 6 | $93,656 | $3,602.15 | $44.88 | +$15,687 |
| Step 7 | $96,333 | $3,705.12 | $46.16 | +$16,136 |
| Step 8 | $99,009 | $3,808.04 | $47.44 | +$16,584 |
| Step 9 | $101,685 | $3,910.96 | $48.72 | +$17,032 |
| Step 10 | $104,361 | $4,013.88 | $50.01 | +$17,480 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more PHOENIX pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in PHOENIX: 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 PHOENIX pay area adds a 20.12% 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 PHOENIX
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns roughly $3,088 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,014. 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 PHOENIX page.
Other grades in PHOENIX
GS-12 in PHOENIX questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in PHOENIX?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns $80,275 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $104,361. This is 20.12% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in PHOENIX?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHOENIX in 2021, it is 20.12%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,446 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in PHOENIX?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns roughly $3,088 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.