An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$100,940 GS-13 Step 1 in SEATTLE (2021)
$131,223 GS-13 Step 10 in SEATTLE (2021)
+$21,472 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-13 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-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $100,940 $3,882.31 $48.37 +$21,472
Step 2 $104,305 $4,011.73 $49.98 +$22,188
Step 3 $107,670 $4,141.15 $51.59 +$22,904
Step 4 $111,035 $4,270.58 $53.20 +$23,620
Step 5 $114,399 $4,399.96 $54.82 +$24,335
Step 6 $117,764 $4,529.38 $56.43 +$25,051
Step 7 $121,129 $4,658.81 $58.04 +$25,767
Step 8 $124,494 $4,788.23 $59.65 +$26,483
Step 9 $127,858 $4,917.62 $61.26 +$27,198
Step 10 $131,223 $5,047.04 $62.88 +$27,914
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SEATTLE pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $79,468
  • SEATTLE GS-13 Step 1 $100,940
  • Locality add-on +$21,472
  • Adjustment percent 27.02%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $103,309
  • SEATTLE GS-13 Step 10 $131,223

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-13 in SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 27.02% 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 SEATTLE

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,882 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,047. 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 SEATTLE page.

Other grades in SEATTLE

GS-13 in SEATTLE questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in SEATTLE?
    In 2021, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $100,940 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $131,223. This is 27.02% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,472 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in SEATTLE?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $3,882 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.