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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$29,931 GS-3 Step 1 in Raleigh (2022)
$38,911 GS-3 Step 10 in Raleigh (2022)
+$5,182 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-3 pay table for Raleigh

Each step below already includes the 20.94% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $29,931 $1,151.19 $14.34 +$5,182
Step 2 $30,929 $1,189.58 $14.82 +$5,355
Step 3 $31,927 $1,227.96 $15.30 +$5,528
Step 4 $32,925 $1,266.35 $15.78 +$5,701
Step 5 $33,922 $1,304.69 $16.25 +$5,873
Step 6 $34,920 $1,343.08 $16.73 +$6,046
Step 7 $35,918 $1,381.46 $17.21 +$6,219
Step 8 $36,916 $1,419.85 $17.69 +$6,392
Step 9 $37,913 $1,458.19 $18.17 +$6,564
Step 10 $38,911 $1,496.58 $18.64 +$6,737
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Raleigh pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $24,749
  • Raleigh GS-3 Step 1 $29,931
  • Locality add-on +$5,182
  • Adjustment percent 20.94%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $32,174
  • Raleigh GS-3 Step 10 $38,911

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-3 in Raleigh: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2022, the Raleigh pay area adds a 20.94% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Raleigh

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,151 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,497. 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-3 Raleigh page.

Other grades in Raleigh

GS-3 in Raleigh questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Raleigh?
    In 2022, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $29,931 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $38,911. This is 20.94% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Raleigh?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2022, it is 20.94%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,182 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Raleigh?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,151 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.