2022 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 31.53% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $81,216 on the base table to $106,823 in Washington DC.
2022 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,823 | $4,108.58 | $51.18 | +$25,607 |
| Step 2 | $110,384 | $4,245.54 | $52.89 | +$26,461 |
| Step 3 | $113,944 | $4,382.46 | $54.60 | +$27,314 |
| Step 4 | $117,505 | $4,519.42 | $56.30 | +$28,168 |
| Step 5 | $121,065 | $4,656.35 | $58.01 | +$29,021 |
| Step 6 | $124,626 | $4,793.31 | $59.72 | +$29,875 |
| Step 7 | $128,187 | $4,930.27 | $61.42 | +$30,729 |
| Step 8 | $131,747 | $5,067.19 | $63.13 | +$31,582 |
| Step 9 | $135,308 | $5,204.15 | $64.83 | +$32,436 |
| Step 10 | $138,868 | $5,341.08 | $66.54 | +$33,289 |
2022 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 31.53% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $106,823 | $4,108.58 | $51.18 | +$25,607 |
| Step 2 | $110,384 | $4,245.54 | $52.89 | +$26,461 |
| Step 3 | $113,944 | $4,382.46 | $54.60 | +$27,314 |
| Step 4 | $117,505 | $4,519.42 | $56.30 | +$28,168 |
| Step 5 | $121,065 | $4,656.35 | $58.01 | +$29,021 |
| Step 6 | $124,626 | $4,793.31 | $59.72 | +$29,875 |
| Step 7 | $128,187 | $4,930.27 | $61.42 | +$30,729 |
| Step 8 | $131,747 | $5,067.19 | $63.13 | +$31,582 |
| Step 9 | $135,308 | $5,204.15 | $64.83 | +$32,436 |
| Step 10 | $138,868 | $5,341.08 | $66.54 | +$33,289 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2022, the Washington DC pay area adds a 31.53% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,109 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,341. 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-13 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2022, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $106,823 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $138,868. This is 31.53% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2022, it is 31.53%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $25,607 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,109 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.