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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$43,683 GS-7 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2021)
$56,790 GS-7 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2021)
+$6,009 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-7 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.95% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-7 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $43,683 $1,680.12 $20.93 +$6,009
Step 2 $45,139 $1,736.12 $21.63 +$6,209
Step 3 $46,596 $1,792.15 $22.33 +$6,410
Step 4 $48,052 $1,848.15 $23.02 +$6,610
Step 5 $49,508 $1,904.15 $23.72 +$6,810
Step 6 $50,965 $1,960.19 $24.42 +$7,011
Step 7 $52,421 $2,016.19 $25.12 +$7,211
Step 8 $53,877 $2,072.19 $25.82 +$7,411
Step 9 $55,334 $2,128.23 $26.51 +$7,612
Step 10 $56,790 $2,184.23 $27.21 +$7,812
← GS-6 Calculate my take-home GS-8 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-7 Step 1 $37,674
  • Rest of U.S. GS-7 Step 1 $43,683
  • Locality add-on +$6,009
  • Adjustment percent 15.95%
  • Base GS-7 Step 10 $48,978
  • Rest of U.S. GS-7 Step 10 $56,790

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-7 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect

Entry-level professional roles for college graduates with superior academic achievement, plus more senior technician positions.

For 2021, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-7 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement, one year of graduate study, or one year of GS-5-equivalent experience.

Promotion path. Usual career-ladder promotion to GS-9 after one year of specialized experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-7 is O-2 First Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-7 in Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-7 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,680 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,184. 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-7 Rest of U.S. page.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-7 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-7 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2021, a GS-7 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $43,683 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $56,790. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-7 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-7 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2021, it is 15.95%. On a GS-7 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,009 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-7 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-7 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,680 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.