2023 GS-12 Pay in Denver
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 29.05% 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 $91,753 in Denver.
2023 GS-12 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $91,753 | $3,528.96 | $43.96 | +$20,654 |
| Step 2 | $94,812 | $3,646.62 | $45.43 | +$21,343 |
| Step 3 | $97,870 | $3,764.23 | $46.90 | +$22,031 |
| Step 4 | $100,929 | $3,881.88 | $48.36 | +$22,720 |
| Step 5 | $103,987 | $3,999.50 | $49.83 | +$23,408 |
| Step 6 | $107,046 | $4,117.15 | $51.29 | +$24,097 |
| Step 7 | $110,104 | $4,234.77 | $52.76 | +$24,785 |
| Step 8 | $113,163 | $4,352.42 | $54.22 | +$25,474 |
| Step 9 | $116,221 | $4,470.04 | $55.69 | +$26,162 |
| Step 10 | $119,280 | $4,587.69 | $57.15 | +$26,851 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 29.05% 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 | $91,753 | $3,528.96 | $43.96 | +$20,654 |
| Step 2 | $94,812 | $3,646.62 | $45.43 | +$21,343 |
| Step 3 | $97,870 | $3,764.23 | $46.90 | +$22,031 |
| Step 4 | $100,929 | $3,881.88 | $48.36 | +$22,720 |
| Step 5 | $103,987 | $3,999.50 | $49.83 | +$23,408 |
| Step 6 | $107,046 | $4,117.15 | $51.29 | +$24,097 |
| Step 7 | $110,104 | $4,234.77 | $52.76 | +$24,785 |
| Step 8 | $113,163 | $4,352.42 | $54.22 | +$25,474 |
| Step 9 | $116,221 | $4,470.04 | $55.69 | +$26,162 |
| Step 10 | $119,280 | $4,587.69 | $57.15 | +$26,851 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 29.05% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,529 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,588. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-12 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Denver?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $91,753 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $119,280. This is 29.05% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2023, it is 29.05%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,654 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,529 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.