2023 GS-4 Pay Scale
The GS-4 base salary range for 2023 is $28,921 at Step 1, rising to $37,597 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-4 for 2023.
2023 GS-4 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-4 rates for 2023.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $28,921 | $1,112.35 | $13.86 | - |
| Step 2 | $29,885 | $1,149.42 | $14.32 | - |
| Step 3 | $30,849 | $1,186.50 | $14.78 | - |
| Step 4 | $31,813 | $1,223.58 | $15.24 | - |
| Step 5 | $32,777 | $1,260.65 | $15.71 | - |
| Step 6 | $33,741 | $1,297.73 | $16.17 | - |
| Step 7 | $34,705 | $1,334.81 | $16.63 | - |
| Step 8 | $35,669 | $1,371.88 | $17.09 | - |
| Step 9 | $36,633 | $1,408.96 | $17.55 | - |
| Step 10 | $37,597 | $1,446.04 | $18.01 | - |
2023 GS-4 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-4 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 | $28,921 | $1,112.35 | $13.86 | - |
| Step 2 | $29,885 | $1,149.42 | $14.32 | - |
| Step 3 | $30,849 | $1,186.50 | $14.78 | - |
| Step 4 | $31,813 | $1,223.58 | $15.24 | - |
| Step 5 | $32,777 | $1,260.65 | $15.71 | - |
| Step 6 | $33,741 | $1,297.73 | $16.17 | - |
| Step 7 | $34,705 | $1,334.81 | $16.63 | - |
| Step 8 | $35,669 | $1,371.88 | $17.09 | - |
| Step 9 | $36,633 | $1,408.96 | $17.55 | - |
| Step 10 | $37,597 | $1,446.04 | $18.01 | - |
Who is a GS-4?
Typical role. Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
Minimum qualifications. Two years of post-secondary education, an associate's degree, or one year of GS-3 equivalent experience.
Career progression. Usually promoted to GS-5 after one year in the grade.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-4 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-4 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2023, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-4 Step 1 | GS-4 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 44.15% | $41,690 | $54,196 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $39,379 | $51,192 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $39,012 | $50,715 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $38,890 | $50,557 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $38,317 | $49,812 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $38,179 | $49,632 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $37,979 | $49,372 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $37,901 | $49,271 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $37,860 | $49,218 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $37,537 | $48,797 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $37,473 | $48,714 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $37,323 | $48,519 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $37,126 | $48,263 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $37,106 | $48,237 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $36,973 | $48,064 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $36,553 | $47,519 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $36,547 | $47,511 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $36,145 | $46,989 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $35,903 | $46,673 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $35,579 | $46,252 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $35,208 | $45,771 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $35,194 | $45,752 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $35,122 | $45,658 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $35,104 | $45,635 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $35,101 | $45,631 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $35,096 | $45,624 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $35,096 | $45,624 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $35,072 | $45,594 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $35,044 | $45,556 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $34,983 | $45,477 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $34,890 | $45,357 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $34,876 | $45,338 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $34,812 | $45,256 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $34,546 | $44,910 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $34,532 | $44,891 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $34,448 | $44,782 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $34,445 | $44,778 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $34,347 | $44,650 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $34,309 | $44,601 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $34,297 | $44,586 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $34,242 | $44,515 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $34,216 | $44,481 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $34,188 | $44,443 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $34,179 | $44,432 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $34,127 | $44,364 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $34,109 | $44,342 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $34,020 | $44,225 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $34,002 | $44,203 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $33,988 | $44,184 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $33,956 | $44,143 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $33,924 | $44,101 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $33,875 | $44,037 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $33,866 | $44,026 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $33,693 | $43,801 |
Top and bottom GS-4 localities in 2023
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-4 pay scale
GS-4 is part of the 2023 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
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-4 questions for 2023
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What is the starting salary for GS-4 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GS-4 in 2023 is $28,921 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2023 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 44.15%), GS-4 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-4 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-4 to GS-5?
Promotion from GS-4 to GS-5 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-4 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-5 vacancy. Open the GS-5 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-4?
GS-4 is roughly equivalent to E-5 Sergeant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.