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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$31,270 GS-3 Step 1 in Raleigh (2023)
$40,653 GS-3 Step 10 in Raleigh (2023)
+$5,506 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-3 pay table for Raleigh

Each step below already includes the 21.37% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $31,270 $1,202.69 $14.98 +$5,506
Step 2 $32,312 $1,242.77 $15.48 +$5,689
Step 3 $33,355 $1,282.88 $15.98 +$5,873
Step 4 $34,397 $1,322.96 $16.48 +$6,056
Step 5 $35,440 $1,363.08 $16.98 +$6,240
Step 6 $36,483 $1,403.19 $17.48 +$6,424
Step 7 $37,525 $1,443.27 $17.98 +$6,607
Step 8 $38,568 $1,483.38 $18.48 +$6,791
Step 9 $39,610 $1,523.46 $18.98 +$6,974
Step 10 $40,653 $1,563.58 $19.48 +$7,158
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Raleigh pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $25,764
  • Raleigh GS-3 Step 1 $31,270
  • Locality add-on +$5,506
  • Adjustment percent 21.37%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $33,495
  • Raleigh GS-3 Step 10 $40,653

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-3 in Raleigh: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2023, the Raleigh pay area adds a 21.37% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Raleigh

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,203 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,564. 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-3 Raleigh page.

Other grades in Raleigh

GS-3 in Raleigh questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Raleigh?
    In 2023, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $31,270 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $40,653. This is 21.37% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Raleigh?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2023, it is 21.37%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,506 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Raleigh?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,203 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.