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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$80,832 GS-12 Step 1 in St. Louis (2022)
$105,085 GS-12 Step 10 in St. Louis (2022)
+$12,533 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-12 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 18.35% 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 $80,832 $3,108.92 $38.73 +$12,533
Step 2 $83,527 $3,212.58 $40.02 +$12,951
Step 3 $86,222 $3,316.23 $41.31 +$13,369
Step 4 $88,916 $3,419.85 $42.60 +$13,786
Step 5 $91,611 $3,523.50 $43.90 +$14,204
Step 6 $94,306 $3,627.15 $45.19 +$14,622
Step 7 $97,001 $3,730.81 $46.48 +$15,040
Step 8 $99,696 $3,834.46 $47.77 +$15,458
Step 9 $102,391 $3,938.12 $49.06 +$15,876
Step 10 $105,085 $4,041.73 $50.35 +$16,293
← GS-11 Calculate my take-home GS-13 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-12 Step 1 $68,299
  • St. Louis GS-12 Step 1 $80,832
  • Locality add-on +$12,533
  • Adjustment percent 18.35%
  • Base GS-12 Step 10 $88,792
  • St. Louis GS-12 Step 10 $105,085

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 St. Louis: 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 St. Louis pay area adds a 18.35% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $3,109 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,042. 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 St. Louis page.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-12 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-12 make in St. Louis?
    In 2022, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $80,832 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $105,085. This is 18.35% higher than the base GS-12 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2022, it is 18.35%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,533 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $3,109 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.