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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$68,217 GS-10 Step 1 in Washington DC (2022)
$88,684 GS-10 Step 10 in Washington DC (2022)
+$16,353 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-10 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 31.53% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-10 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $68,217 $2,623.73 $32.69 +$16,353
Step 2 $70,491 $2,711.19 $33.78 +$16,898
Step 3 $72,765 $2,798.65 $34.87 +$17,443
Step 4 $75,039 $2,886.12 $35.96 +$17,988
Step 5 $77,313 $2,973.58 $37.05 +$18,533
Step 6 $79,587 $3,061.04 $38.13 +$19,078
Step 7 $81,862 $3,148.54 $39.22 +$19,624
Step 8 $84,136 $3,236.00 $40.31 +$20,169
Step 9 $86,410 $3,323.46 $41.40 +$20,714
Step 10 $88,684 $3,410.92 $42.49 +$21,259
← GS-9 Calculate my take-home GS-11 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-10 Step 1 $51,864
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 1 $68,217
  • Locality add-on +$16,353
  • Adjustment percent 31.53%
  • Base GS-10 Step 10 $67,425
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 10 $88,684

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-10 in Washington DC: what to expect

Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.

For 2022, the Washington DC pay area adds a 31.53% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,624 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,411. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2022 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-10 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-10 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-10 make in Washington DC?
    In 2022, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $68,217 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $88,684. This is 31.53% higher than the base GS-10 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2022, it is 31.53%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,353 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,624 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.