2021 GS-15 Pay in CINCINNATI
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN earn 20.55% 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 $133,160 in CINCINNATI.
2021 GS-15 Pay in CINCINNATI
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $133,160 | $5,121.54 | $63.80 | +$22,700 |
| Step 2 | $137,598 | $5,292.23 | $65.93 | +$23,456 |
| Step 3 | $142,037 | $5,462.96 | $68.06 | +$24,213 |
| Step 4 | $146,475 | $5,633.65 | $70.18 | +$24,969 |
| Step 5 | $150,914 | $5,804.38 | $72.31 | +$25,726 |
| Step 6 | $155,353 | $5,975.12 | $74.44 | +$26,483 |
| Step 7 | $159,791 | $6,145.81 | $76.56 | +$27,239 |
| Step 8 | $164,230 | $6,316.54 | $78.69 | +$27,996 |
| Step 9 | $168,669 | $6,487.27 | $80.82 | +$28,753 |
| Step 10 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$28,902 |
2021 GS-15 pay table for CINCINNATI
Each step below already includes the 20.55% 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 | $133,160 | $5,121.54 | $63.80 | +$22,700 |
| Step 2 | $137,598 | $5,292.23 | $65.93 | +$23,456 |
| Step 3 | $142,037 | $5,462.96 | $68.06 | +$24,213 |
| Step 4 | $146,475 | $5,633.65 | $70.18 | +$24,969 |
| Step 5 | $150,914 | $5,804.38 | $72.31 | +$25,726 |
| Step 6 | $155,353 | $5,975.12 | $74.44 | +$26,483 |
| Step 7 | $159,791 | $6,145.81 | $76.56 | +$27,239 |
| Step 8 | $164,230 | $6,316.54 | $78.69 | +$27,996 |
| Step 9 | $168,669 | $6,487.27 | $80.82 | +$28,753 |
| Step 10 | $172,500 | $6,634.62 | $82.65 | +$28,902 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more CINCINNATI pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in CINCINNATI: 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 CINCINNATI pay area adds a 20.55% 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 CINCINNATI
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CINCINNATI earns roughly $5,122 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 CINCINNATI page.
Other grades in CINCINNATI
GS-15 in CINCINNATI questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in CINCINNATI?
In 2021, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in CINCINNATI earns $133,160 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $172,500. This is 20.55% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in CINCINNATI?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For CINCINNATI in 2021, it is 20.55%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,700 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in CINCINNATI?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in CINCINNATI earns roughly $5,122 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.