2023 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 27.84% 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 $90,893 in Philadelphia.
2023 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,893 | $3,495.88 | $43.55 | +$19,794 |
| Step 2 | $93,923 | $3,612.42 | $45.00 | +$20,454 |
| Step 3 | $96,953 | $3,728.96 | $46.46 | +$21,114 |
| Step 4 | $99,982 | $3,845.46 | $47.91 | +$21,773 |
| Step 5 | $103,012 | $3,962.00 | $49.36 | +$22,433 |
| Step 6 | $106,042 | $4,078.54 | $50.81 | +$23,093 |
| Step 7 | $109,072 | $4,195.08 | $52.26 | +$23,753 |
| Step 8 | $112,102 | $4,311.62 | $53.71 | +$24,413 |
| Step 9 | $115,131 | $4,428.12 | $55.17 | +$25,072 |
| Step 10 | $118,161 | $4,544.65 | $56.62 | +$25,732 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 27.84% 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 | $90,893 | $3,495.88 | $43.55 | +$19,794 |
| Step 2 | $93,923 | $3,612.42 | $45.00 | +$20,454 |
| Step 3 | $96,953 | $3,728.96 | $46.46 | +$21,114 |
| Step 4 | $99,982 | $3,845.46 | $47.91 | +$21,773 |
| Step 5 | $103,012 | $3,962.00 | $49.36 | +$22,433 |
| Step 6 | $106,042 | $4,078.54 | $50.81 | +$23,093 |
| Step 7 | $109,072 | $4,195.08 | $52.26 | +$23,753 |
| Step 8 | $112,102 | $4,311.62 | $53.71 | +$24,413 |
| Step 9 | $115,131 | $4,428.12 | $55.17 | +$25,072 |
| Step 10 | $118,161 | $4,544.65 | $56.62 | +$25,732 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 27.84% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,496 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,545. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-12 in Philadelphia questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Philadelphia?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $90,893 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $118,161. This is 27.84% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2023, it is 27.84%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,794 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,496 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.