2023 GS-12 Pay Scale
The GS-12 base salary range for 2023 is $71,099 at Step 1, rising to $92,429 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-12 for 2023.
2023 GS-12 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-12 rates for 2023.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $71,099 | $2,734.58 | $34.07 | - |
| Step 2 | $73,469 | $2,825.73 | $35.20 | - |
| Step 3 | $75,839 | $2,916.88 | $36.34 | - |
| Step 4 | $78,209 | $3,008.04 | $37.47 | - |
| Step 5 | $80,579 | $3,099.19 | $38.61 | - |
| Step 6 | $82,949 | $3,190.35 | $39.75 | - |
| Step 7 | $85,319 | $3,281.50 | $40.88 | - |
| Step 8 | $87,689 | $3,372.65 | $42.02 | - |
| Step 9 | $90,059 | $3,463.81 | $43.15 | - |
| Step 10 | $92,429 | $3,554.96 | $44.29 | - |
2023 GS-12 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-12 salary schedule for 2023, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $71,099 | $2,734.58 | $34.07 | - |
| Step 2 | $73,469 | $2,825.73 | $35.20 | - |
| Step 3 | $75,839 | $2,916.88 | $36.34 | - |
| Step 4 | $78,209 | $3,008.04 | $37.47 | - |
| Step 5 | $80,579 | $3,099.19 | $38.61 | - |
| Step 6 | $82,949 | $3,190.35 | $39.75 | - |
| Step 7 | $85,319 | $3,281.50 | $40.88 | - |
| Step 8 | $87,689 | $3,372.65 | $42.02 | - |
| Step 9 | $90,059 | $3,463.81 | $43.15 | - |
| Step 10 | $92,429 | $3,554.96 | $44.29 | - |
Who is a GS-12?
Typical role. Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Career progression. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-12 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-12 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2023, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-12 Step 1 | GS-12 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 44.15% | $102,489 | $133,236 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $96,808 | $125,851 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $95,905 | $124,677 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $95,607 | $124,289 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $94,199 | $122,459 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $93,858 | $122,016 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $93,367 | $121,378 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $93,175 | $121,128 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $93,076 | $120,999 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $92,279 | $119,964 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $92,123 | $119,760 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $91,753 | $119,280 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $91,270 | $118,651 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $91,220 | $118,586 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $90,893 | $118,161 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $89,862 | $116,821 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $89,848 | $116,803 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $88,860 | $115,518 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $88,262 | $114,741 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $87,466 | $113,706 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $86,556 | $112,523 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $86,520 | $112,477 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $86,343 | $112,246 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $86,300 | $112,190 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $86,293 | $112,181 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $86,279 | $112,163 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $86,279 | $112,163 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $86,222 | $112,089 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $86,151 | $111,996 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $86,001 | $111,802 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $85,774 | $111,506 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $85,738 | $111,460 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $85,582 | $111,257 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $84,928 | $110,406 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $84,892 | $110,360 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $84,686 | $110,092 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $84,679 | $110,083 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $84,437 | $109,769 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $84,345 | $109,649 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $84,316 | $109,612 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $84,181 | $109,436 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $84,117 | $109,353 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $84,046 | $109,260 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $84,025 | $109,233 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $83,897 | $109,066 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $83,854 | $109,011 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $83,634 | $108,724 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $83,591 | $108,669 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $83,556 | $108,623 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $83,477 | $108,521 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $83,399 | $108,419 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $83,278 | $108,262 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $83,257 | $108,234 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $82,830 | $107,680 |
Top and bottom GS-12 localities in 2023
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-12 pay scale
GS-12 is part of the 2023 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2023
GS-12 questions for 2023
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What is the starting salary for GS-12 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GS-12 in 2023 is $71,099 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2023 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 44.15%), GS-12 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-12 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-12 to GS-13?
Promotion from GS-12 to GS-13 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-13 vacancy. Open the GS-13 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-12?
GS-12 is roughly equivalent to O-5 Lieutenant Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.