2022 GS-12 Pay in Seattle
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 28.28% 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 $87,614 in Seattle.
2022 GS-12 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $87,614 | $3,369.77 | $41.98 | +$19,315 |
| Step 2 | $90,535 | $3,482.12 | $43.38 | +$19,959 |
| Step 3 | $93,456 | $3,594.46 | $44.78 | +$20,603 |
| Step 4 | $96,377 | $3,706.81 | $46.18 | +$21,247 |
| Step 5 | $99,298 | $3,819.15 | $47.58 | +$21,891 |
| Step 6 | $102,219 | $3,931.50 | $48.98 | +$22,535 |
| Step 7 | $105,140 | $4,043.85 | $50.38 | +$23,179 |
| Step 8 | $108,061 | $4,156.19 | $51.78 | +$23,823 |
| Step 9 | $110,981 | $4,268.50 | $53.18 | +$24,466 |
| Step 10 | $113,902 | $4,380.85 | $54.58 | +$25,110 |
2022 GS-12 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 28.28% 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 | $87,614 | $3,369.77 | $41.98 | +$19,315 |
| Step 2 | $90,535 | $3,482.12 | $43.38 | +$19,959 |
| Step 3 | $93,456 | $3,594.46 | $44.78 | +$20,603 |
| Step 4 | $96,377 | $3,706.81 | $46.18 | +$21,247 |
| Step 5 | $99,298 | $3,819.15 | $47.58 | +$21,891 |
| Step 6 | $102,219 | $3,931.50 | $48.98 | +$22,535 |
| Step 7 | $105,140 | $4,043.85 | $50.38 | +$23,179 |
| Step 8 | $108,061 | $4,156.19 | $51.78 | +$23,823 |
| Step 9 | $110,981 | $4,268.50 | $53.18 | +$24,466 |
| Step 10 | $113,902 | $4,380.85 | $54.58 | +$25,110 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Seattle: 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 Seattle pay area adds a 28.28% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $3,370 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,381. 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 Seattle page.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-12 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Seattle?
In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $87,614 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $113,902. This is 28.28% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2022, it is 28.28%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,315 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $3,370 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.