2022 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 42.74% 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 $161,139 in San Francisco.
2022 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $161,139 | $6,197.65 | $77.21 | +$48,249 |
| Step 2 | $166,510 | $6,404.23 | $79.78 | +$49,857 |
| Step 3 | $171,882 | $6,610.85 | $82.36 | +$51,466 |
| Step 4 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$52,121 |
| Step 5 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$48,358 |
| Step 6 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$44,595 |
| Step 7 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$40,832 |
| Step 8 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$37,069 |
| Step 9 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$33,306 |
| Step 10 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$29,543 |
2022 GS-15 pay table for San Francisco
Each step below already includes the 42.74% 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 | $161,139 | $6,197.65 | $77.21 | +$48,249 |
| Step 2 | $166,510 | $6,404.23 | $79.78 | +$49,857 |
| Step 3 | $171,882 | $6,610.85 | $82.36 | +$51,466 |
| Step 4 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$52,121 |
| Step 5 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$48,358 |
| Step 6 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$44,595 |
| Step 7 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$40,832 |
| Step 8 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$37,069 |
| Step 9 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$33,306 |
| Step 10 | $176,300 | $6,780.77 | $84.48 | +$29,543 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 42.74% 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 San Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $6,198 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,781. 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 San Francisco page.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-15 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in San Francisco?
In 2022, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $161,139 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $176,300. This is 42.74% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2022, it is 42.74%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $48,249 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $6,198 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.