2022 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 26.95% 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 $86,706 in Philadelphia.
2022 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $86,706 | $3,334.85 | $41.55 | +$18,407 |
| Step 2 | $89,596 | $3,446.00 | $42.93 | +$19,020 |
| Step 3 | $92,487 | $3,557.19 | $44.32 | +$19,634 |
| Step 4 | $95,378 | $3,668.38 | $45.70 | +$20,248 |
| Step 5 | $98,268 | $3,779.54 | $47.09 | +$20,861 |
| Step 6 | $101,159 | $3,890.73 | $48.47 | +$21,475 |
| Step 7 | $104,049 | $4,001.88 | $49.86 | +$22,088 |
| Step 8 | $106,940 | $4,113.08 | $51.24 | +$22,702 |
| Step 9 | $109,831 | $4,224.27 | $52.63 | +$23,316 |
| Step 10 | $112,721 | $4,335.42 | $54.01 | +$23,929 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 26.95% 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 | $86,706 | $3,334.85 | $41.55 | +$18,407 |
| Step 2 | $89,596 | $3,446.00 | $42.93 | +$19,020 |
| Step 3 | $92,487 | $3,557.19 | $44.32 | +$19,634 |
| Step 4 | $95,378 | $3,668.38 | $45.70 | +$20,248 |
| Step 5 | $98,268 | $3,779.54 | $47.09 | +$20,861 |
| Step 6 | $101,159 | $3,890.73 | $48.47 | +$21,475 |
| Step 7 | $104,049 | $4,001.88 | $49.86 | +$22,088 |
| Step 8 | $106,940 | $4,113.08 | $51.24 | +$22,702 |
| Step 9 | $109,831 | $4,224.27 | $52.63 | +$23,316 |
| Step 10 | $112,721 | $4,335.42 | $54.01 | +$23,929 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 26.95% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,335 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,335. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-12 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Philadelphia?
In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $86,706 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $112,721. This is 26.95% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2022, it is 26.95%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,407 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,335 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.