2022 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.20% 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 $79,363 in Rest of U.S..
2022 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $79,363 | $3,052.42 | $38.03 | +$11,064 |
| Step 2 | $82,009 | $3,154.19 | $39.30 | +$11,433 |
| Step 3 | $84,655 | $3,255.96 | $40.56 | +$11,802 |
| Step 4 | $87,301 | $3,357.73 | $41.83 | +$12,171 |
| Step 5 | $89,947 | $3,459.50 | $43.10 | +$12,540 |
| Step 6 | $92,593 | $3,561.27 | $44.37 | +$12,909 |
| Step 7 | $95,239 | $3,663.04 | $45.63 | +$13,278 |
| Step 8 | $97,885 | $3,764.81 | $46.90 | +$13,647 |
| Step 9 | $100,530 | $3,866.54 | $48.17 | +$14,015 |
| Step 10 | $103,176 | $3,968.31 | $49.44 | +$14,384 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.20% 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 | $79,363 | $3,052.42 | $38.03 | +$11,064 |
| Step 2 | $82,009 | $3,154.19 | $39.30 | +$11,433 |
| Step 3 | $84,655 | $3,255.96 | $40.56 | +$11,802 |
| Step 4 | $87,301 | $3,357.73 | $41.83 | +$12,171 |
| Step 5 | $89,947 | $3,459.50 | $43.10 | +$12,540 |
| Step 6 | $92,593 | $3,561.27 | $44.37 | +$12,909 |
| Step 7 | $95,239 | $3,663.04 | $45.63 | +$13,278 |
| Step 8 | $97,885 | $3,764.81 | $46.90 | +$13,647 |
| Step 9 | $100,530 | $3,866.54 | $48.17 | +$14,015 |
| Step 10 | $103,176 | $3,968.31 | $49.44 | +$14,384 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.20% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,052 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,968. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $79,363 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $103,176. This is 16.20% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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 2022, it is 16.20%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,064 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,052 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.