2021 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 27.02% 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 $84,886 in SEATTLE.
2021 GS-12 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $84,886 | $3,264.85 | $40.67 | +$18,057 |
| Step 2 | $87,716 | $3,373.69 | $42.03 | +$18,659 |
| Step 3 | $90,546 | $3,482.54 | $43.39 | +$19,261 |
| Step 4 | $93,376 | $3,591.38 | $44.74 | +$19,863 |
| Step 5 | $96,206 | $3,700.23 | $46.10 | +$20,465 |
| Step 6 | $99,036 | $3,809.08 | $47.45 | +$21,067 |
| Step 7 | $101,866 | $3,917.92 | $48.81 | +$21,669 |
| Step 8 | $104,696 | $4,026.77 | $50.17 | +$22,271 |
| Step 9 | $107,526 | $4,135.62 | $51.52 | +$22,873 |
| Step 10 | $110,356 | $4,244.46 | $52.88 | +$23,475 |
2021 GS-12 pay table for SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 27.02% 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 | $84,886 | $3,264.85 | $40.67 | +$18,057 |
| Step 2 | $87,716 | $3,373.69 | $42.03 | +$18,659 |
| Step 3 | $90,546 | $3,482.54 | $43.39 | +$19,261 |
| Step 4 | $93,376 | $3,591.38 | $44.74 | +$19,863 |
| Step 5 | $96,206 | $3,700.23 | $46.10 | +$20,465 |
| Step 6 | $99,036 | $3,809.08 | $47.45 | +$21,067 |
| Step 7 | $101,866 | $3,917.92 | $48.81 | +$21,669 |
| Step 8 | $104,696 | $4,026.77 | $50.17 | +$22,271 |
| Step 9 | $107,526 | $4,135.62 | $51.52 | +$22,873 |
| Step 10 | $110,356 | $4,244.46 | $52.88 | +$23,475 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 27.02% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,265 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,244. 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-12 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in SEATTLE?
In 2021, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $84,886 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $110,356. This is 27.02% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2021, it is 27.02%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,057 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,265 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.