2021 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2021 is $110,460 at Step 1, rising to $143,598 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2021.
2021 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2021.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $110,460 | $4,248.46 | $52.93 | - |
| Step 2 | $114,142 | $4,390.08 | $54.69 | - |
| Step 3 | $117,824 | $4,531.69 | $56.46 | - |
| Step 4 | $121,506 | $4,673.31 | $58.22 | - |
| Step 5 | $125,188 | $4,814.92 | $59.98 | - |
| Step 6 | $128,870 | $4,956.54 | $61.75 | - |
| Step 7 | $132,552 | $5,098.15 | $63.51 | - |
| Step 8 | $136,234 | $5,239.77 | $65.28 | - |
| Step 9 | $139,916 | $5,381.38 | $67.04 | - |
| Step 10 | $143,598 | $5,523.00 | $68.81 | - |
2021 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2021, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $110,460 | $4,248.46 | $52.93 | - |
| Step 2 | $114,142 | $4,390.08 | $54.69 | - |
| Step 3 | $117,824 | $4,531.69 | $56.46 | - |
| Step 4 | $121,506 | $4,673.31 | $58.22 | - |
| Step 5 | $125,188 | $4,814.92 | $59.98 | - |
| Step 6 | $128,870 | $4,956.54 | $61.75 | - |
| Step 7 | $132,552 | $5,098.15 | $63.51 | - |
| Step 8 | $136,234 | $5,239.77 | $65.28 | - |
| Step 9 | $139,916 | $5,381.38 | $67.04 | - |
| Step 10 | $143,598 | $5,523.00 | $68.81 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2021, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 41.44% | $156,235 | $172,500 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $147,994 | $172,500 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $147,265 | $172,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $146,260 | $172,500 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $144,128 | $172,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $143,344 | $172,500 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $143,233 | $172,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $143,035 | $172,500 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $142,615 | $172,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $142,041 | $172,500 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $140,638 | $172,500 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $140,428 | $172,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $140,306 | $172,500 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $139,588 | $172,500 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $139,224 | $172,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $138,053 | $172,500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $137,699 | $172,500 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $136,683 | $172,500 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $136,429 | $172,500 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $134,938 | $172,500 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $133,612 | $172,500 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $133,458 | $172,500 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $133,160 | $172,500 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $133,093 | $172,500 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $132,773 | $172,500 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $132,685 | $172,490 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $132,574 | $172,346 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $132,497 | $172,246 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $132,386 | $172,102 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $132,066 | $171,686 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $131,889 | $171,456 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $131,646 | $171,140 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $131,315 | $170,709 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $130,531 | $169,690 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $130,210 | $169,273 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $130,100 | $169,130 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $129,989 | $168,986 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $129,956 | $168,943 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $129,724 | $168,641 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $129,459 | $168,297 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $129,448 | $168,282 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $129,382 | $168,196 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $129,282 | $168,067 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $129,150 | $167,895 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $129,117 | $167,852 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $128,984 | $167,679 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $128,940 | $167,622 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $128,885 | $167,550 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $128,752 | $167,378 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $128,697 | $167,306 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $128,498 | $167,048 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $128,421 | $166,947 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $128,078 | $166,502 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $128,078 | $166,502 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2021
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2021 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2021
GS-15 questions for 2021
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2021 is $110,460 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2021 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 41.44%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.