2023 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 34.89% 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 $95,905 in Los Angeles.
2023 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $95,905 | $3,688.65 | $45.95 | +$24,806 |
| Step 2 | $99,102 | $3,811.62 | $47.49 | +$25,633 |
| Step 3 | $102,299 | $3,934.58 | $49.02 | +$26,460 |
| Step 4 | $105,496 | $4,057.54 | $50.55 | +$27,287 |
| Step 5 | $108,693 | $4,180.50 | $52.08 | +$28,114 |
| Step 6 | $111,890 | $4,303.46 | $53.61 | +$28,941 |
| Step 7 | $115,087 | $4,426.42 | $55.14 | +$29,768 |
| Step 8 | $118,284 | $4,549.38 | $56.68 | +$30,595 |
| Step 9 | $121,481 | $4,672.35 | $58.21 | +$31,422 |
| Step 10 | $124,677 | $4,795.27 | $59.74 | +$32,248 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 34.89% 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 | $95,905 | $3,688.65 | $45.95 | +$24,806 |
| Step 2 | $99,102 | $3,811.62 | $47.49 | +$25,633 |
| Step 3 | $102,299 | $3,934.58 | $49.02 | +$26,460 |
| Step 4 | $105,496 | $4,057.54 | $50.55 | +$27,287 |
| Step 5 | $108,693 | $4,180.50 | $52.08 | +$28,114 |
| Step 6 | $111,890 | $4,303.46 | $53.61 | +$28,941 |
| Step 7 | $115,087 | $4,426.42 | $55.14 | +$29,768 |
| Step 8 | $118,284 | $4,549.38 | $56.68 | +$30,595 |
| Step 9 | $121,481 | $4,672.35 | $58.21 | +$31,422 |
| Step 10 | $124,677 | $4,795.27 | $59.74 | +$32,248 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 34.89% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $3,689 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,795. 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 Los Angeles page.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-12 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Los Angeles?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $95,905 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $124,677. This is 34.89% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2023, it is 34.89%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,806 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $3,689 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.