2022 GS-12 Pay in Denver
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 28.10% 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 $87,491 in Denver.
2022 GS-12 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $87,491 | $3,365.04 | $41.92 | +$19,192 |
| Step 2 | $90,408 | $3,477.23 | $43.32 | +$19,832 |
| Step 3 | $93,325 | $3,589.42 | $44.72 | +$20,472 |
| Step 4 | $96,242 | $3,701.62 | $46.11 | +$21,112 |
| Step 5 | $99,158 | $3,813.77 | $47.51 | +$21,751 |
| Step 6 | $102,075 | $3,925.96 | $48.91 | +$22,391 |
| Step 7 | $104,992 | $4,038.15 | $50.31 | +$23,031 |
| Step 8 | $107,909 | $4,150.35 | $51.71 | +$23,671 |
| Step 9 | $110,826 | $4,262.54 | $53.10 | +$24,311 |
| Step 10 | $113,743 | $4,374.73 | $54.50 | +$24,951 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 28.10% 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 | $87,491 | $3,365.04 | $41.92 | +$19,192 |
| Step 2 | $90,408 | $3,477.23 | $43.32 | +$19,832 |
| Step 3 | $93,325 | $3,589.42 | $44.72 | +$20,472 |
| Step 4 | $96,242 | $3,701.62 | $46.11 | +$21,112 |
| Step 5 | $99,158 | $3,813.77 | $47.51 | +$21,751 |
| Step 6 | $102,075 | $3,925.96 | $48.91 | +$22,391 |
| Step 7 | $104,992 | $4,038.15 | $50.31 | +$23,031 |
| Step 8 | $107,909 | $4,150.35 | $51.71 | +$23,671 |
| Step 9 | $110,826 | $4,262.54 | $53.10 | +$24,311 |
| Step 10 | $113,743 | $4,374.73 | $54.50 | +$24,951 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 28.10% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,365 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,375. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-12 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Denver?
In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $87,491 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $113,743. This is 28.10% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2022, it is 28.10%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,192 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,365 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.