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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$78,307 GS-11 Step 1 in San Diego (2023)
$101,796 GS-11 Step 10 in San Diego (2023)
+$18,988 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-11 pay table for San Diego

Each step below already includes the 32.01% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $78,307 $3,011.81 $37.52 +$18,988
Step 2 $80,917 $3,112.19 $38.77 +$19,621
Step 3 $83,527 $3,212.58 $40.02 +$20,254
Step 4 $86,137 $3,312.96 $41.27 +$20,887
Step 5 $88,746 $3,413.31 $42.52 +$21,519
Step 6 $91,356 $3,513.69 $43.77 +$22,152
Step 7 $93,966 $3,614.08 $45.02 +$22,785
Step 8 $96,576 $3,714.46 $46.28 +$23,418
Step 9 $99,186 $3,814.85 $47.53 +$24,051
Step 10 $101,796 $3,915.23 $48.78 +$24,684
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Diego pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $59,319
  • San Diego GS-11 Step 1 $78,307
  • Locality add-on +$18,988
  • Adjustment percent 32.01%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $77,112
  • San Diego GS-11 Step 10 $101,796

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-11 in San Diego: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2023, the San Diego pay area adds a 32.01% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 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-11 in San Diego

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $3,012 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,915. 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-11 San Diego page.

Other grades in San Diego

GS-11 in San Diego questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in San Diego?
    In 2023, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $78,307 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $101,796. This is 32.01% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in San Diego?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2023, it is 32.01%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,988 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in San Diego?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $3,012 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.