2022 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.20% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $112,890 on the base table to $131,178 in Rest of U.S..
2022 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $131,178 | $5,045.31 | $62.85 | +$18,288 |
| Step 2 | $135,551 | $5,213.50 | $64.95 | +$18,898 |
| Step 3 | $139,923 | $5,381.65 | $67.05 | +$19,507 |
| Step 4 | $144,296 | $5,549.85 | $69.14 | +$20,117 |
| Step 5 | $148,669 | $5,718.04 | $71.24 | +$20,727 |
| Step 6 | $153,041 | $5,886.19 | $73.33 | +$21,336 |
| Step 7 | $157,414 | $6,054.38 | $75.43 | +$21,946 |
| Step 8 | $161,786 | $6,222.54 | $77.52 | +$22,555 |
| Step 9 | $166,159 | $6,390.73 | $79.62 | +$23,165 |
| Step 10 | $170,532 | $6,558.92 | $81.71 | +$23,775 |
2022 GS-15 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.20% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $131,178 | $5,045.31 | $62.85 | +$18,288 |
| Step 2 | $135,551 | $5,213.50 | $64.95 | +$18,898 |
| Step 3 | $139,923 | $5,381.65 | $67.05 | +$19,507 |
| Step 4 | $144,296 | $5,549.85 | $69.14 | +$20,117 |
| Step 5 | $148,669 | $5,718.04 | $71.24 | +$20,727 |
| Step 6 | $153,041 | $5,886.19 | $73.33 | +$21,336 |
| Step 7 | $157,414 | $6,054.38 | $75.43 | +$21,946 |
| Step 8 | $161,786 | $6,222.54 | $77.52 | +$22,555 |
| Step 9 | $166,159 | $6,390.73 | $79.62 | +$23,165 |
| Step 10 | $170,532 | $6,558.92 | $81.71 | +$23,775 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2022, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.20% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $5,045 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,559. 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-15 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2022, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $131,178 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,532. This is 16.20% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2022, it is 16.20%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,288 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $5,045 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.