An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$86,945 GS-12 Step 1 in Sacramento (2022)
$113,032 GS-12 Step 10 in Sacramento (2022)
+$18,646 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-12 pay table for Sacramento

Each step below already includes the 27.30% 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 $86,945 $3,344.04 $41.66 +$18,646
Step 2 $89,843 $3,455.50 $43.05 +$19,267
Step 3 $92,742 $3,567.00 $44.44 +$19,889
Step 4 $95,640 $3,678.46 $45.83 +$20,510
Step 5 $98,539 $3,789.96 $47.22 +$21,132
Step 6 $101,438 $3,901.46 $48.60 +$21,754
Step 7 $104,336 $4,012.92 $49.99 +$22,375
Step 8 $107,235 $4,124.42 $51.38 +$22,997
Step 9 $110,134 $4,235.92 $52.77 +$23,619
Step 10 $113,032 $4,347.38 $54.16 +$24,240
← GS-11 Calculate my take-home GS-13 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Sacramento pays

  • Base GS-12 Step 1 $68,299
  • Sacramento GS-12 Step 1 $86,945
  • Locality add-on +$18,646
  • Adjustment percent 27.30%
  • Base GS-12 Step 10 $88,792
  • Sacramento GS-12 Step 10 $113,032

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-12 in Sacramento: 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 Sacramento pay area adds a 27.30% 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 Sacramento

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns roughly $3,344 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,347. 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 Sacramento page.

Other grades in Sacramento

GS-12 in Sacramento questions

  • How much does a GS-12 make in Sacramento?
    In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns $86,945 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $113,032. This is 27.30% higher than the base GS-12 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Sacramento?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Sacramento in 2022, it is 27.30%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,646 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Sacramento?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Sacramento earns roughly $3,344 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.