2023 GS-12 Pay in Boston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 31.05% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $71,099 on the base table to $93,175 in Boston.
2023 GS-12 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $93,175 | $3,583.65 | $44.65 | +$22,076 |
| Step 2 | $96,281 | $3,703.12 | $46.13 | +$22,812 |
| Step 3 | $99,387 | $3,822.58 | $47.62 | +$23,548 |
| Step 4 | $102,493 | $3,942.04 | $49.11 | +$24,284 |
| Step 5 | $105,599 | $4,061.50 | $50.60 | +$25,020 |
| Step 6 | $108,705 | $4,180.96 | $52.09 | +$25,756 |
| Step 7 | $111,811 | $4,300.42 | $53.57 | +$26,492 |
| Step 8 | $114,916 | $4,419.85 | $55.06 | +$27,227 |
| Step 9 | $118,022 | $4,539.31 | $56.55 | +$27,963 |
| Step 10 | $121,128 | $4,658.77 | $58.04 | +$28,699 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 31.05% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $93,175 | $3,583.65 | $44.65 | +$22,076 |
| Step 2 | $96,281 | $3,703.12 | $46.13 | +$22,812 |
| Step 3 | $99,387 | $3,822.58 | $47.62 | +$23,548 |
| Step 4 | $102,493 | $3,942.04 | $49.11 | +$24,284 |
| Step 5 | $105,599 | $4,061.50 | $50.60 | +$25,020 |
| Step 6 | $108,705 | $4,180.96 | $52.09 | +$25,756 |
| Step 7 | $111,811 | $4,300.42 | $53.57 | +$26,492 |
| Step 8 | $114,916 | $4,419.85 | $55.06 | +$27,227 |
| Step 9 | $118,022 | $4,539.31 | $56.55 | +$27,963 |
| Step 10 | $121,128 | $4,658.77 | $58.04 | +$28,699 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Boston: what to expect
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.
For 2023, the Boston pay area adds a 31.05% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,584 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,659. 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-12 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-12 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Boston?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $93,175 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $121,128. This is 31.05% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2023, it is 31.05%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,076 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,584 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.