2021 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% 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 $103,690 in Washington DC.
2021 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,690 | $3,988.08 | $49.68 | +$24,222 |
| Step 2 | $107,146 | $4,121.00 | $51.34 | +$25,029 |
| Step 3 | $110,603 | $4,253.96 | $53.00 | +$25,837 |
| Step 4 | $114,059 | $4,386.88 | $54.65 | +$26,644 |
| Step 5 | $117,516 | $4,519.85 | $56.31 | +$27,452 |
| Step 6 | $120,972 | $4,652.77 | $57.96 | +$28,259 |
| Step 7 | $124,428 | $4,785.69 | $59.62 | +$29,066 |
| Step 8 | $127,885 | $4,918.65 | $61.28 | +$29,874 |
| Step 9 | $131,341 | $5,051.58 | $62.93 | +$30,681 |
| Step 10 | $134,798 | $5,184.54 | $64.59 | +$31,489 |
2021 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $103,690 | $3,988.08 | $49.68 | +$24,222 |
| Step 2 | $107,146 | $4,121.00 | $51.34 | +$25,029 |
| Step 3 | $110,603 | $4,253.96 | $53.00 | +$25,837 |
| Step 4 | $114,059 | $4,386.88 | $54.65 | +$26,644 |
| Step 5 | $117,516 | $4,519.85 | $56.31 | +$27,452 |
| Step 6 | $120,972 | $4,652.77 | $57.96 | +$28,259 |
| Step 7 | $124,428 | $4,785.69 | $59.62 | +$29,066 |
| Step 8 | $127,885 | $4,918.65 | $61.28 | +$29,874 |
| Step 9 | $131,341 | $5,051.58 | $62.93 | +$30,681 |
| Step 10 | $134,798 | $5,184.54 | $64.59 | +$31,489 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,988 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,185. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2021, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $103,690 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $134,798. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2021, it is 30.48%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,222 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,988 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.