2021 GS-15 Pay in BOSTON
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 29.11% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $110,460 on the base table to $142,615 in BOSTON.
2021 GS-15 Pay in BOSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $142,615 | $5,485.19 | $68.33 | +$32,155 |
| Step 2 | $147,369 | $5,668.04 | $70.61 | +$33,227 |
| Step 3 | $152,123 | $5,850.88 | $72.89 | +$34,299 |
| Step 4 | $156,876 | $6,033.69 | $75.17 | +$35,370 |
| Step 5 | $161,630 | $6,216.54 | $77.45 | +$36,442 |
| Step 6 | $166,384 | $6,399.38 | $79.72 | +$37,514 |
| Step 7 | $171,138 | $6,582.23 | $82.00 | +$38,586 |
| Step 8 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$36,266 |
| Step 9 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$32,584 |
| Step 10 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$28,902 |
2021 GS-15 pay table for BOSTON
Each step below already includes the 29.11% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $142,615 | $5,485.19 | $68.33 | +$32,155 |
| Step 2 | $147,369 | $5,668.04 | $70.61 | +$33,227 |
| Step 3 | $152,123 | $5,850.88 | $72.89 | +$34,299 |
| Step 4 | $156,876 | $6,033.69 | $75.17 | +$35,370 |
| Step 5 | $161,630 | $6,216.54 | $77.45 | +$36,442 |
| Step 6 | $166,384 | $6,399.38 | $79.72 | +$37,514 |
| Step 7 | $171,138 | $6,582.23 | $82.00 | +$38,586 |
| Step 8 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$36,266 |
| Step 9 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$32,584 |
| Step 10 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$28,902 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more BOSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in BOSTON: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2021, the BOSTON pay area adds a 29.11% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in BOSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $5,485 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,635. 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-15 BOSTON page.
Other grades in BOSTON
GS-15 in BOSTON questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in BOSTON?
In 2021, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns $142,615 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $172,500. This is 29.11% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in BOSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BOSTON in 2021, it is 29.11%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $32,155 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in BOSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $5,485 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.