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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$133,605 GS-15 Step 1 in St. Louis (2022)
$173,687 GS-15 Step 10 in St. Louis (2022)
+$20,715 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-15 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-15 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $133,605 $5,138.65 $64.02 +$20,715
Step 2 $138,059 $5,309.96 $66.15 +$21,406
Step 3 $142,512 $5,481.23 $68.29 +$22,096
Step 4 $146,966 $5,652.54 $70.42 +$22,787
Step 5 $151,419 $5,823.81 $72.55 +$23,477
Step 6 $155,873 $5,995.12 $74.69 +$24,168
Step 7 $160,326 $6,166.38 $76.82 +$24,858
Step 8 $164,780 $6,337.69 $78.96 +$25,549
Step 9 $169,233 $6,508.96 $81.09 +$26,239
Step 10 $173,687 $6,680.27 $83.22 +$26,930
← GS-14 Calculate my take-home

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-15 Step 1 $112,890
  • St. Louis GS-15 Step 1 $133,605
  • Locality add-on +$20,715
  • Adjustment percent 18.35%
  • Base GS-15 Step 10 $146,757
  • St. Louis GS-15 Step 10 $173,687

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-15 in St. Louis: 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 St. Louis pay area adds a 18.35% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,139 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,680. 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 St. Louis page.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-15 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-15 make in St. Louis?
    In 2022, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $133,605 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $173,687. This is 18.35% higher than the base GS-15 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 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-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,715 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,139 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.