2023 GS-12 Pay in San Diego
GS-12 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 32.01% 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 $93,858 in San Diego.
2023 GS-12 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $93,858 | $3,609.92 | $44.97 | +$22,759 |
| Step 2 | $96,986 | $3,730.23 | $46.47 | +$23,517 |
| Step 3 | $100,115 | $3,850.58 | $47.97 | +$24,276 |
| Step 4 | $103,244 | $3,970.92 | $49.47 | +$25,035 |
| Step 5 | $106,372 | $4,091.23 | $50.97 | +$25,793 |
| Step 6 | $109,501 | $4,211.58 | $52.47 | +$26,552 |
| Step 7 | $112,630 | $4,331.92 | $53.97 | +$27,311 |
| Step 8 | $115,758 | $4,452.23 | $55.47 | +$28,069 |
| Step 9 | $118,887 | $4,572.58 | $56.97 | +$28,828 |
| Step 10 | $122,016 | $4,692.92 | $58.46 | +$29,587 |
2023 GS-12 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 32.01% 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 | $93,858 | $3,609.92 | $44.97 | +$22,759 |
| Step 2 | $96,986 | $3,730.23 | $46.47 | +$23,517 |
| Step 3 | $100,115 | $3,850.58 | $47.97 | +$24,276 |
| Step 4 | $103,244 | $3,970.92 | $49.47 | +$25,035 |
| Step 5 | $106,372 | $4,091.23 | $50.97 | +$25,793 |
| Step 6 | $109,501 | $4,211.58 | $52.47 | +$26,552 |
| Step 7 | $112,630 | $4,331.92 | $53.97 | +$27,311 |
| Step 8 | $115,758 | $4,452.23 | $55.47 | +$28,069 |
| Step 9 | $118,887 | $4,572.58 | $56.97 | +$28,828 |
| Step 10 | $122,016 | $4,692.92 | $58.46 | +$29,587 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in San Diego: 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 San Diego pay area adds a 32.01% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $3,610 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,693. 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 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-12 in San Diego questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in San Diego?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $93,858 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $122,016. This is 32.01% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2023, it is 32.01%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,759 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $3,610 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.