2023 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.50% 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 $82,830 in Rest of U.S..
2023 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $82,830 | $3,185.77 | $39.69 | +$11,731 |
| Step 2 | $85,591 | $3,291.96 | $41.01 | +$12,122 |
| Step 3 | $88,352 | $3,398.15 | $42.33 | +$12,513 |
| Step 4 | $91,113 | $3,504.35 | $43.66 | +$12,904 |
| Step 5 | $93,875 | $3,610.58 | $44.98 | +$13,296 |
| Step 6 | $96,636 | $3,716.77 | $46.30 | +$13,687 |
| Step 7 | $99,397 | $3,822.96 | $47.63 | +$14,078 |
| Step 8 | $102,158 | $3,929.15 | $48.95 | +$14,469 |
| Step 9 | $104,919 | $4,035.35 | $50.27 | +$14,860 |
| Step 10 | $107,680 | $4,141.54 | $51.60 | +$15,251 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.50% 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 | $82,830 | $3,185.77 | $39.69 | +$11,731 |
| Step 2 | $85,591 | $3,291.96 | $41.01 | +$12,122 |
| Step 3 | $88,352 | $3,398.15 | $42.33 | +$12,513 |
| Step 4 | $91,113 | $3,504.35 | $43.66 | +$12,904 |
| Step 5 | $93,875 | $3,610.58 | $44.98 | +$13,296 |
| Step 6 | $96,636 | $3,716.77 | $46.30 | +$13,687 |
| Step 7 | $99,397 | $3,822.96 | $47.63 | +$14,078 |
| Step 8 | $102,158 | $3,929.15 | $48.95 | +$14,469 |
| Step 9 | $104,919 | $4,035.35 | $50.27 | +$14,860 |
| Step 10 | $107,680 | $4,141.54 | $51.60 | +$15,251 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.50% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,186 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,142. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $82,830 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $107,680. This is 16.50% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2023, it is 16.50%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,731 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,186 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.