2022 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2022 is $112,890 at Step 1, rising to $146,757 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2022.
2022 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2022.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $112,890 | $4,341.92 | $54.09 | - |
| Step 2 | $116,653 | $4,486.65 | $55.90 | - |
| Step 3 | $120,416 | $4,631.38 | $57.70 | - |
| Step 4 | $124,179 | $4,776.12 | $59.50 | - |
| Step 5 | $127,942 | $4,920.85 | $61.30 | - |
| Step 6 | $131,705 | $5,065.58 | $63.11 | - |
| Step 7 | $135,468 | $5,210.31 | $64.91 | - |
| Step 8 | $139,231 | $5,355.04 | $66.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $142,994 | $5,499.77 | $68.52 | - |
| Step 10 | $146,757 | $5,644.50 | $70.32 | - |
2022 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2022, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $112,890 | $4,341.92 | $54.09 | - |
| Step 2 | $116,653 | $4,486.65 | $55.90 | - |
| Step 3 | $120,416 | $4,631.38 | $57.70 | - |
| Step 4 | $124,179 | $4,776.12 | $59.50 | - |
| Step 5 | $127,942 | $4,920.85 | $61.30 | - |
| Step 6 | $131,705 | $5,065.58 | $63.11 | - |
| Step 7 | $135,468 | $5,210.31 | $64.91 | - |
| Step 8 | $139,231 | $5,355.04 | $66.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $142,994 | $5,499.77 | $68.52 | - |
| Step 10 | $146,757 | $5,644.50 | $70.32 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2022, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 42.74% | $161,139 | $176,300 |
| New York-Newark | 35.06% | $152,469 | $176,300 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.96% | $151,227 | $176,300 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 33.61% | $150,832 | $176,300 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 31.53% | $148,484 | $176,300 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 30.87% | $147,739 | $176,300 |
| State of Alaska | 30.42% | $147,231 | $176,300 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.20% | $146,983 | $176,300 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 30.09% | $146,859 | $176,300 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.18% | $145,831 | $176,300 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 28.28% | $144,815 | $176,300 |
| Denver-Aurora | 28.10% | $144,612 | $176,300 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.86% | $144,341 | $176,300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 27.30% | $143,709 | $176,300 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.95% | $143,314 | $176,300 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 25.68% | $141,880 | $176,300 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 25.49% | $141,666 | $176,300 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.34% | $140,367 | $176,300 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.80% | $139,758 | $176,300 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.63% | $138,437 | $176,300 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.32% | $136,958 | $176,300 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.25% | $136,879 | $176,300 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.94% | $136,529 | $176,300 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.94% | $136,529 | $176,300 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.84% | $136,416 | $176,300 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.78% | $136,349 | $176,300 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.69% | $136,247 | $176,300 |
| Richmond | 20.64% | $136,190 | $176,300 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.45% | $135,976 | $176,300 |
| State of Hawaii | 20.40% | $135,920 | $176,300 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.93% | $135,389 | $176,006 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.90% | $135,355 | $175,962 |
| Laredo | 19.85% | $135,299 | $175,888 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.80% | $134,113 | $174,347 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 18.68% | $133,978 | $174,171 |
| Colorado Springs | 18.42% | $133,684 | $173,790 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 18.35% | $133,605 | $173,687 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.25% | $133,492 | $173,540 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.06% | $133,278 | $173,261 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.90% | $133,097 | $173,027 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.77% | $132,951 | $172,836 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.67% | $132,838 | $172,689 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 17.62% | $132,781 | $172,616 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.58% | $132,736 | $172,557 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 17.39% | $132,522 | $172,278 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.26% | $132,375 | $172,087 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.18% | $132,285 | $171,970 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.14% | $132,239 | $171,911 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.01% | $132,093 | $171,720 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.93% | $132,002 | $171,603 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.82% | $131,878 | $171,442 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.81% | $131,867 | $171,427 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 16.52% | $131,539 | $171,001 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.20% | $131,178 | $170,532 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2022
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2022 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2022
GS-15 questions for 2022
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2022?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2022 is $112,890 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2022 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 42.74%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.