An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$36,358 GS-4 Step 1 in San Diego (2022)
$47,265 GS-4 Step 10 in San Diego (2022)
+$8,576 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-4 pay table for San Diego

Each step below already includes the 30.87% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-4 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $36,358 $1,398.38 $17.42 +$8,576
Step 2 $37,570 $1,445.00 $18.00 +$8,862
Step 3 $38,782 $1,491.62 $18.58 +$9,148
Step 4 $39,994 $1,538.23 $19.16 +$9,434
Step 5 $41,206 $1,584.85 $19.74 +$9,720
Step 6 $42,418 $1,631.46 $20.32 +$10,006
Step 7 $43,629 $1,678.04 $20.91 +$10,291
Step 8 $44,841 $1,724.65 $21.49 +$10,577
Step 9 $46,053 $1,771.27 $22.07 +$10,863
Step 10 $47,265 $1,817.88 $22.65 +$11,149
← GS-3 Calculate my take-home GS-5 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Diego pays

  • Base GS-4 Step 1 $27,782
  • San Diego GS-4 Step 1 $36,358
  • Locality add-on +$8,576
  • Adjustment percent 30.87%
  • Base GS-4 Step 10 $36,116
  • San Diego GS-4 Step 10 $47,265

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-4 in San Diego: what to expect

Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.

For 2022, the San Diego pay area adds a 30.87% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-4 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. Two years of post-secondary education, an associate's degree, or one year of GS-3 equivalent experience.

Promotion path. Usually promoted to GS-5 after one year in the grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-4 is E-5 Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-4 in San Diego

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,398 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,818. 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-4 San Diego page.

Other grades in San Diego

GS-4 in San Diego questions

  • How much does a GS-4 make in San Diego?
    In 2022, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $36,358 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $47,265. This is 30.87% higher than the base GS-4 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-4 in San Diego?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2022, it is 30.87%. On a GS-4 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,576 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-4 in San Diego?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,398 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.