2023 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.50% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $117,518 on the base table to $136,908 in Rest of U.S..
2023 GS-15 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $136,908 | $5,265.69 | $65.60 | +$19,390 |
| Step 2 | $141,472 | $5,441.23 | $67.79 | +$20,037 |
| Step 3 | $146,035 | $5,616.73 | $69.97 | +$20,683 |
| Step 4 | $150,598 | $5,792.23 | $72.16 | +$21,329 |
| Step 5 | $155,162 | $5,967.77 | $74.35 | +$21,976 |
| Step 6 | $159,725 | $6,143.27 | $76.53 | +$22,622 |
| Step 7 | $164,288 | $6,318.77 | $78.72 | +$23,268 |
| Step 8 | $168,852 | $6,494.31 | $80.91 | +$23,915 |
| Step 9 | $173,415 | $6,669.81 | $83.09 | +$24,561 |
| Step 10 | $177,978 | $6,845.31 | $85.28 | +$25,207 |
2023 GS-15 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.50% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $136,908 | $5,265.69 | $65.60 | +$19,390 |
| Step 2 | $141,472 | $5,441.23 | $67.79 | +$20,037 |
| Step 3 | $146,035 | $5,616.73 | $69.97 | +$20,683 |
| Step 4 | $150,598 | $5,792.23 | $72.16 | +$21,329 |
| Step 5 | $155,162 | $5,967.77 | $74.35 | +$21,976 |
| Step 6 | $159,725 | $6,143.27 | $76.53 | +$22,622 |
| Step 7 | $164,288 | $6,318.77 | $78.72 | +$23,268 |
| Step 8 | $168,852 | $6,494.31 | $80.91 | +$23,915 |
| Step 9 | $173,415 | $6,669.81 | $83.09 | +$24,561 |
| Step 10 | $177,978 | $6,845.31 | $85.28 | +$25,207 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2023, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.50% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $5,266 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,845. 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-15 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-15 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2023, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $136,908 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $177,978. This is 16.50% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2023, it is 16.50%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,390 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $5,266 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.