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

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$71,531 GS-10 Step 1 in Washington DC (2023)
$92,995 GS-10 Step 10 in Washington DC (2023)
+$17,541 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-10 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 32.49% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-10 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $71,531 $2,751.19 $34.27 +$17,541
Step 2 $73,916 $2,842.92 $35.42 +$18,126
Step 3 $76,301 $2,934.65 $36.56 +$18,711
Step 4 $78,686 $3,026.38 $37.70 +$19,296
Step 5 $81,071 $3,118.12 $38.85 +$19,881
Step 6 $83,455 $3,209.81 $39.99 +$20,465
Step 7 $85,840 $3,301.54 $41.13 +$21,050
Step 8 $88,225 $3,393.27 $42.27 +$21,635
Step 9 $90,610 $3,485.00 $43.42 +$22,220
Step 10 $92,995 $3,576.73 $44.56 +$22,805
← GS-9 Calculate my take-home GS-11 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-10 Step 1 $53,990
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 1 $71,531
  • Locality add-on +$17,541
  • Adjustment percent 32.49%
  • Base GS-10 Step 10 $70,190
  • Washington DC GS-10 Step 10 $92,995

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-10 in Washington DC: what to expect

Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.

For 2023, the Washington DC pay area adds a 32.49% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,751 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,577. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2023 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-10 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-10 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-10 make in Washington DC?
    In 2023, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $71,531 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $92,995. This is 32.49% higher than the base GS-10 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2023, it is 32.49%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,541 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,751 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.