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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$84,679 GS-12 Step 1 in St. Louis (2023)
$110,083 GS-12 Step 10 in St. Louis (2023)
+$13,580 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-12 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 19.10% 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 $84,679 $3,256.88 $40.57 +$13,580
Step 2 $87,502 $3,365.46 $41.93 +$14,033
Step 3 $90,324 $3,474.00 $43.28 +$14,485
Step 4 $93,147 $3,582.58 $44.63 +$14,938
Step 5 $95,970 $3,691.15 $45.98 +$15,391
Step 6 $98,792 $3,799.69 $47.34 +$15,843
Step 7 $101,615 $3,908.27 $48.69 +$16,296
Step 8 $104,438 $4,016.85 $50.04 +$16,749
Step 9 $107,260 $4,125.38 $51.39 +$17,201
Step 10 $110,083 $4,233.96 $52.75 +$17,654
← GS-11 Calculate my take-home GS-13 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-12 Step 1 $71,099
  • St. Louis GS-12 Step 1 $84,679
  • Locality add-on +$13,580
  • Adjustment percent 19.10%
  • Base GS-12 Step 10 $92,429
  • St. Louis GS-12 Step 10 $110,083

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-12 in St. Louis: 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 St. Louis pay area adds a 19.10% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $3,257 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,234. 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 St. Louis page.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-12 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-12 make in St. Louis?
    In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $84,679 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $110,083. This is 19.10% higher than the base GS-12 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2023, it is 19.10%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,580 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $3,257 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.