2021 GS-15 Pay in PHILADELPHIA
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 26.04% 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 $139,224 in PHILADELPHIA.
2021 GS-15 Pay in PHILADELPHIA
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $139,224 | $5,354.77 | $66.71 | +$28,764 |
| Step 2 | $143,865 | $5,533.27 | $68.93 | +$29,723 |
| Step 3 | $148,505 | $5,711.73 | $71.16 | +$30,681 |
| Step 4 | $153,146 | $5,890.23 | $73.38 | +$31,640 |
| Step 5 | $157,787 | $6,068.73 | $75.60 | +$32,599 |
| Step 6 | $162,428 | $6,247.23 | $77.83 | +$33,558 |
| Step 7 | $167,069 | $6,425.73 | $80.05 | +$34,517 |
| Step 8 | $171,709 | $6,604.19 | $82.28 | +$35,475 |
| 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 PHILADELPHIA
Each step below already includes the 26.04% 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 | $139,224 | $5,354.77 | $66.71 | +$28,764 |
| Step 2 | $143,865 | $5,533.27 | $68.93 | +$29,723 |
| Step 3 | $148,505 | $5,711.73 | $71.16 | +$30,681 |
| Step 4 | $153,146 | $5,890.23 | $73.38 | +$31,640 |
| Step 5 | $157,787 | $6,068.73 | $75.60 | +$32,599 |
| Step 6 | $162,428 | $6,247.23 | $77.83 | +$33,558 |
| Step 7 | $167,069 | $6,425.73 | $80.05 | +$34,517 |
| Step 8 | $171,709 | $6,604.19 | $82.28 | +$35,475 |
| 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 PHILADELPHIA pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in PHILADELPHIA: 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 PHILADELPHIA pay area adds a 26.04% 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 PHILADELPHIA
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $5,355 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 PHILADELPHIA page.
Other grades in PHILADELPHIA
GS-15 in PHILADELPHIA questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in PHILADELPHIA?
In 2021, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns $139,224 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $172,500. This is 26.04% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in PHILADELPHIA?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHILADELPHIA in 2021, it is 26.04%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $28,764 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in PHILADELPHIA?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $5,355 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.