2023 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 32.49% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $84,546 on the base table to $112,015 in Washington DC.
2023 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $112,015 | $4,308.27 | $53.67 | +$27,469 |
| Step 2 | $115,749 | $4,451.88 | $55.46 | +$28,385 |
| Step 3 | $119,482 | $4,595.46 | $57.25 | +$29,300 |
| Step 4 | $123,216 | $4,739.08 | $59.04 | +$30,216 |
| Step 5 | $126,949 | $4,882.65 | $60.83 | +$31,131 |
| Step 6 | $130,683 | $5,026.27 | $62.62 | +$32,047 |
| Step 7 | $134,416 | $5,169.85 | $64.41 | +$32,962 |
| Step 8 | $138,150 | $5,313.46 | $66.20 | +$33,878 |
| Step 9 | $141,884 | $5,457.08 | $67.98 | +$34,794 |
| Step 10 | $145,617 | $5,600.65 | $69.77 | +$35,709 |
2023 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 32.49% 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 | $112,015 | $4,308.27 | $53.67 | +$27,469 |
| Step 2 | $115,749 | $4,451.88 | $55.46 | +$28,385 |
| Step 3 | $119,482 | $4,595.46 | $57.25 | +$29,300 |
| Step 4 | $123,216 | $4,739.08 | $59.04 | +$30,216 |
| Step 5 | $126,949 | $4,882.65 | $60.83 | +$31,131 |
| Step 6 | $130,683 | $5,026.27 | $62.62 | +$32,047 |
| Step 7 | $134,416 | $5,169.85 | $64.41 | +$32,962 |
| Step 8 | $138,150 | $5,313.46 | $66.20 | +$33,878 |
| Step 9 | $141,884 | $5,457.08 | $67.98 | +$34,794 |
| Step 10 | $145,617 | $5,600.65 | $69.77 | +$35,709 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 32.49% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,308 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,601. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2023, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $112,015 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $145,617. This is 32.49% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2023, it is 32.49%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,469 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,308 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.