2021 GS-13 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-13 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 29.77% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $79,468 on the base table to $103,126 in SAN DIEGO.
2021 GS-13 Pay in SAN DIEGO
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,126 | $3,966.38 | $49.41 | +$23,658 |
| Step 2 | $106,563 | $4,098.58 | $51.06 | +$24,446 |
| Step 3 | $110,001 | $4,230.81 | $52.71 | +$25,235 |
| Step 4 | $113,438 | $4,363.00 | $54.35 | +$26,023 |
| Step 5 | $116,876 | $4,495.23 | $56.00 | +$26,812 |
| Step 6 | $120,314 | $4,627.46 | $57.65 | +$27,601 |
| Step 7 | $123,751 | $4,759.65 | $59.30 | +$28,389 |
| Step 8 | $127,189 | $4,891.88 | $60.94 | +$29,178 |
| Step 9 | $130,626 | $5,024.08 | $62.59 | +$29,966 |
| Step 10 | $134,064 | $5,156.31 | $64.24 | +$30,755 |
2021 GS-13 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 29.77% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,126 | $3,966.38 | $49.41 | +$23,658 |
| Step 2 | $106,563 | $4,098.58 | $51.06 | +$24,446 |
| Step 3 | $110,001 | $4,230.81 | $52.71 | +$25,235 |
| Step 4 | $113,438 | $4,363.00 | $54.35 | +$26,023 |
| Step 5 | $116,876 | $4,495.23 | $56.00 | +$26,812 |
| Step 6 | $120,314 | $4,627.46 | $57.65 | +$27,601 |
| Step 7 | $123,751 | $4,759.65 | $59.30 | +$28,389 |
| Step 8 | $127,189 | $4,891.88 | $60.94 | +$29,178 |
| Step 9 | $130,626 | $5,024.08 | $62.59 | +$29,966 |
| Step 10 | $134,064 | $5,156.31 | $64.24 | +$30,755 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SAN DIEGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in SAN DIEGO: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2021, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in SAN DIEGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $3,966 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,156. 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-13 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-13 in SAN DIEGO questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2021, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $103,126 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $134,064. This is 29.77% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in SAN DIEGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2021, it is 29.77%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,658 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in SAN DIEGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $3,966 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.