An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$110,798 GS-13 Step 1 in Boston (2023)
$144,034 GS-13 Step 10 in Boston (2023)
+$26,252 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-13 pay table for Boston

Each step below already includes the 31.05% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $110,798 $4,261.46 $53.09 +$26,252
Step 2 $114,491 $4,403.50 $54.86 +$27,127
Step 3 $118,184 $4,545.54 $56.63 +$28,002
Step 4 $121,877 $4,687.58 $58.40 +$28,877
Step 5 $125,569 $4,829.58 $60.17 +$29,751
Step 6 $129,262 $4,971.62 $61.94 +$30,626
Step 7 $132,955 $5,113.65 $63.71 +$31,501
Step 8 $136,648 $5,255.69 $65.48 +$32,376
Step 9 $140,341 $5,397.73 $67.25 +$33,251
Step 10 $144,034 $5,539.77 $69.01 +$34,126

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Boston pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $84,546
  • Boston GS-13 Step 1 $110,798
  • Locality add-on +$26,252
  • Adjustment percent 31.05%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $109,908
  • Boston GS-13 Step 10 $144,034

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-13 in Boston: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2023, the Boston pay area adds a 31.05% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Boston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $4,261 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,540. 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-13 Boston page.

Other grades in Boston

GS-13 in Boston questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in Boston?
    In 2023, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $110,798 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $144,034. This is 31.05% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Boston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2023, it is 31.05%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,252 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Boston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $4,261 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.