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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$121,873 GS-13 Step 1 in San Francisco (2023)
$158,432 GS-13 Step 10 in San Francisco (2023)
+$37,327 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-13 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 44.15% 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 $121,873 $4,687.42 $58.40 +$37,327
Step 2 $125,935 $4,843.65 $60.34 +$38,571
Step 3 $129,997 $4,999.88 $62.29 +$39,815
Step 4 $134,060 $5,156.15 $64.24 +$41,060
Step 5 $138,122 $5,312.38 $66.18 +$42,304
Step 6 $142,184 $5,468.62 $68.13 +$43,548
Step 7 $146,246 $5,624.85 $70.07 +$44,792
Step 8 $150,308 $5,781.08 $72.02 +$46,036
Step 9 $154,370 $5,937.31 $73.97 +$47,280
Step 10 $158,432 $6,093.54 $75.91 +$48,524
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $84,546
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 1 $121,873
  • Locality add-on +$37,327
  • Adjustment percent 44.15%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $109,908
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 10 $158,432

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 San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 44.15% 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 San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,687 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,094. 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 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-13 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in San Francisco?
    In 2023, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $121,873 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $158,432. This is 44.15% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2023, it is 44.15%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $37,327 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $4,687 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.