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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$31,391 GS-2 Step 1 in San Francisco (2021)
$39,503 GS-2 Step 10 in San Francisco (2021)
+$9,197 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-2 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 41.44% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-2 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $31,391 $1,207.35 $15.04 +$9,197
Step 2 $32,138 $1,236.08 $15.40 +$9,416
Step 3 $33,178 $1,276.08 $15.90 +$9,721
Step 4 $34,056 $1,309.85 $16.32 +$9,978
Step 5 $34,439 $1,324.58 $16.50 +$10,090
Step 6 $35,452 $1,363.54 $16.99 +$10,387
Step 7 $36,465 $1,402.50 $17.47 +$10,684
Step 8 $37,477 $1,441.42 $17.96 +$10,980
Step 9 $38,490 $1,480.38 $18.44 +$11,277
Step 10 $39,503 $1,519.35 $18.93 +$11,574
← GS-1 Calculate my take-home GS-3 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-2 Step 1 $22,194
  • San Francisco GS-2 Step 1 $31,391
  • Locality add-on +$9,197
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-2 Step 10 $27,929
  • San Francisco GS-2 Step 10 $39,503

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-2 in San Francisco: what to expect

Basic clerical, file-room and light-labor assignments. Often a starting point for summer hires and interns.

For 2021, the San Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-2 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. High school or equivalent, or three months of general experience.

Promotion path. Most GS-2 employees advance to GS-3 after one year.

The rough military equivalent for GS-2 is E-3 Private First Class, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-2 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-2 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,207 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,519. 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-2 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-2 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-2 make in San Francisco?
    In 2021, a GS-2 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $31,391 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $39,503. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-2 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-2 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2021, it is 41.44%. On a GS-2 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,197 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-2 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-2 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,207 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.