2022 GS-12 Pay in Boston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 30.09% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $68,299 on the base table to $88,850 in Boston.
2022 GS-12 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,850 | $3,417.31 | $42.57 | +$20,551 |
| Step 2 | $91,812 | $3,531.23 | $43.99 | +$21,236 |
| Step 3 | $94,774 | $3,645.15 | $45.41 | +$21,921 |
| Step 4 | $97,737 | $3,759.12 | $46.83 | +$22,607 |
| Step 5 | $100,699 | $3,873.04 | $48.25 | +$23,292 |
| Step 6 | $103,661 | $3,986.96 | $49.67 | +$23,977 |
| Step 7 | $106,623 | $4,100.88 | $51.09 | +$24,662 |
| Step 8 | $109,585 | $4,214.81 | $52.51 | +$25,347 |
| Step 9 | $112,547 | $4,328.73 | $53.93 | +$26,032 |
| Step 10 | $115,510 | $4,442.69 | $55.35 | +$26,718 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 30.09% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,850 | $3,417.31 | $42.57 | +$20,551 |
| Step 2 | $91,812 | $3,531.23 | $43.99 | +$21,236 |
| Step 3 | $94,774 | $3,645.15 | $45.41 | +$21,921 |
| Step 4 | $97,737 | $3,759.12 | $46.83 | +$22,607 |
| Step 5 | $100,699 | $3,873.04 | $48.25 | +$23,292 |
| Step 6 | $103,661 | $3,986.96 | $49.67 | +$23,977 |
| Step 7 | $106,623 | $4,100.88 | $51.09 | +$24,662 |
| Step 8 | $109,585 | $4,214.81 | $52.51 | +$25,347 |
| Step 9 | $112,547 | $4,328.73 | $53.93 | +$26,032 |
| Step 10 | $115,510 | $4,442.69 | $55.35 | +$26,718 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Boston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2022, the Boston pay area adds a 30.09% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,417 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,443. 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-12 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-12 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Boston?
In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $88,850 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $115,510. This is 30.09% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2022, it is 30.09%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,551 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,417 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.