2023 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2023 is $117,518 at Step 1, rising to $152,771 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-15 for 2023.
2023 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2023.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,518 | $4,519.92 | $56.31 | - |
| Step 2 | $121,435 | $4,670.58 | $58.19 | - |
| Step 3 | $125,352 | $4,821.23 | $60.06 | - |
| Step 4 | $129,269 | $4,971.88 | $61.94 | - |
| Step 5 | $133,186 | $5,122.54 | $63.82 | - |
| Step 6 | $137,103 | $5,273.19 | $65.69 | - |
| Step 7 | $141,020 | $5,423.85 | $67.57 | - |
| Step 8 | $144,937 | $5,574.50 | $69.45 | - |
| Step 9 | $148,854 | $5,725.15 | $71.32 | - |
| Step 10 | $152,771 | $5,875.81 | $73.20 | - |
2023 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2023, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,518 | $4,519.92 | $56.31 | - |
| Step 2 | $121,435 | $4,670.58 | $58.19 | - |
| Step 3 | $125,352 | $4,821.23 | $60.06 | - |
| Step 4 | $129,269 | $4,971.88 | $61.94 | - |
| Step 5 | $133,186 | $5,122.54 | $63.82 | - |
| Step 6 | $137,103 | $5,273.19 | $65.69 | - |
| Step 7 | $141,020 | $5,423.85 | $67.57 | - |
| Step 8 | $144,937 | $5,574.50 | $69.45 | - |
| Step 9 | $148,854 | $5,725.15 | $71.32 | - |
| Step 10 | $152,771 | $5,875.81 | $73.20 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2023, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 44.15% | $169,402 | $183,500 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $160,013 | $183,500 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $158,520 | $183,500 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $158,026 | $183,500 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $155,700 | $183,500 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $155,136 | $183,500 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $154,325 | $183,500 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $154,007 | $183,500 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $153,843 | $183,500 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $152,527 | $183,500 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $152,268 | $183,500 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $151,657 | $183,500 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $150,858 | $183,500 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $150,776 | $183,500 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $150,235 | $183,500 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $148,531 | $183,500 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $148,507 | $183,500 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $146,874 | $183,500 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $145,887 | $183,500 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $144,571 | $183,500 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $143,066 | $183,500 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $143,008 | $183,500 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $142,714 | $183,500 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $142,643 | $183,500 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $142,632 | $183,500 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $142,608 | $183,500 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $142,608 | $183,500 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $142,514 | $183,500 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $142,397 | $183,500 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $142,150 | $183,500 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $141,774 | $183,500 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $141,715 | $183,500 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $141,456 | $183,500 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $140,375 | $182,485 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $140,316 | $182,409 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $139,976 | $181,966 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $139,964 | $181,950 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $139,564 | $181,431 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $139,412 | $181,232 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $139,365 | $181,171 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $139,141 | $180,881 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $139,036 | $180,743 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $138,918 | $180,591 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $138,883 | $180,545 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $138,671 | $180,270 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $138,601 | $180,178 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $138,236 | $179,705 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $138,166 | $179,613 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $138,107 | $179,536 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $137,978 | $179,368 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $137,849 | $179,200 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $137,649 | $178,941 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $137,614 | $178,895 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $136,908 | $177,978 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2023
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2023 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2023
GS-15 questions for 2023
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2023 is $117,518 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2023 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 44.15%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.