2021 GS-12 Pay in PORTLAND
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA earn 23.74% 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 $82,694 in PORTLAND.
2021 GS-12 Pay in PORTLAND
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $82,694 | $3,180.54 | $39.62 | +$15,865 |
| Step 2 | $85,451 | $3,286.58 | $40.94 | +$16,394 |
| Step 3 | $88,208 | $3,392.62 | $42.27 | +$16,923 |
| Step 4 | $90,965 | $3,498.65 | $43.59 | +$17,452 |
| Step 5 | $93,722 | $3,604.69 | $44.91 | +$17,981 |
| Step 6 | $96,479 | $3,710.73 | $46.23 | +$18,510 |
| Step 7 | $99,236 | $3,816.77 | $47.55 | +$19,039 |
| Step 8 | $101,993 | $3,922.81 | $48.87 | +$19,568 |
| Step 9 | $104,750 | $4,028.85 | $50.19 | +$20,097 |
| Step 10 | $107,507 | $4,134.88 | $51.51 | +$20,626 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for PORTLAND
Each step below already includes the 23.74% 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 | $82,694 | $3,180.54 | $39.62 | +$15,865 |
| Step 2 | $85,451 | $3,286.58 | $40.94 | +$16,394 |
| Step 3 | $88,208 | $3,392.62 | $42.27 | +$16,923 |
| Step 4 | $90,965 | $3,498.65 | $43.59 | +$17,452 |
| Step 5 | $93,722 | $3,604.69 | $44.91 | +$17,981 |
| Step 6 | $96,479 | $3,710.73 | $46.23 | +$18,510 |
| Step 7 | $99,236 | $3,816.77 | $47.55 | +$19,039 |
| Step 8 | $101,993 | $3,922.81 | $48.87 | +$19,568 |
| Step 9 | $104,750 | $4,028.85 | $50.19 | +$20,097 |
| Step 10 | $107,507 | $4,134.88 | $51.51 | +$20,626 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more PORTLAND pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in PORTLAND: 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 PORTLAND pay area adds a 23.74% 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 PORTLAND
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PORTLAND earns roughly $3,181 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,135. 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 PORTLAND page.
Other grades in PORTLAND
GS-12 in PORTLAND questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in PORTLAND?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in PORTLAND earns $82,694 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $107,507. This is 23.74% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in PORTLAND?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PORTLAND in 2021, it is 23.74%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,865 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in PORTLAND?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in PORTLAND earns roughly $3,181 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.