2023 GS-6 Pay Scale
The GS-6 base salary range for 2023 is $36,070 at Step 1, rising to $46,888 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-6 for 2023.
2023 GS-6 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-6 rates for 2023.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,070 | $1,387.31 | $17.28 | - |
| Step 2 | $37,272 | $1,433.54 | $17.86 | - |
| Step 3 | $38,474 | $1,479.77 | $18.44 | - |
| Step 4 | $39,676 | $1,526.00 | $19.01 | - |
| Step 5 | $40,878 | $1,572.23 | $19.59 | - |
| Step 6 | $42,080 | $1,618.46 | $20.16 | - |
| Step 7 | $43,282 | $1,664.69 | $20.74 | - |
| Step 8 | $44,484 | $1,710.92 | $21.31 | - |
| Step 9 | $45,686 | $1,757.15 | $21.89 | - |
| Step 10 | $46,888 | $1,803.38 | $22.47 | - |
2023 GS-6 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-6 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 | $36,070 | $1,387.31 | $17.28 | - |
| Step 2 | $37,272 | $1,433.54 | $17.86 | - |
| Step 3 | $38,474 | $1,479.77 | $18.44 | - |
| Step 4 | $39,676 | $1,526.00 | $19.01 | - |
| Step 5 | $40,878 | $1,572.23 | $19.59 | - |
| Step 6 | $42,080 | $1,618.46 | $20.16 | - |
| Step 7 | $43,282 | $1,664.69 | $20.74 | - |
| Step 8 | $44,484 | $1,710.92 | $21.31 | - |
| Step 9 | $45,686 | $1,757.15 | $21.89 | - |
| Step 10 | $46,888 | $1,803.38 | $22.47 | - |
Who is a GS-6?
Typical role. Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Career progression. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-6 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-6 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2023, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-6 Step 1 | GS-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 44.15% | $51,995 | $67,589 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $49,113 | $63,843 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $48,655 | $63,247 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $48,503 | $63,050 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $47,789 | $62,122 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $47,616 | $61,897 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $47,367 | $61,573 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $47,270 | $61,447 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $47,219 | $61,381 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $46,815 | $60,856 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $46,736 | $60,753 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $46,548 | $60,509 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $46,303 | $60,190 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $46,278 | $60,157 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $46,112 | $59,942 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $45,589 | $59,262 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $45,582 | $59,252 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $45,080 | $58,601 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $44,777 | $58,207 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $44,373 | $57,682 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $43,912 | $57,081 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $43,894 | $57,058 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $43,803 | $56,941 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $43,782 | $56,913 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $43,778 | $56,908 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $43,771 | $56,899 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $43,771 | $56,899 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $43,742 | $56,861 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $43,706 | $56,814 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $43,630 | $56,716 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $43,515 | $56,566 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $43,497 | $56,542 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $43,417 | $56,439 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $43,086 | $56,008 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $43,068 | $55,984 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $42,963 | $55,848 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $42,959 | $55,844 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $42,837 | $55,684 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $42,790 | $55,623 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $42,775 | $55,604 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $42,707 | $55,515 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $42,674 | $55,473 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $42,638 | $55,426 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $42,628 | $55,412 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $42,563 | $55,328 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $42,541 | $55,300 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $42,429 | $55,154 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $42,407 | $55,126 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $42,389 | $55,103 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $42,350 | $55,051 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $42,310 | $55,000 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $42,249 | $54,920 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $42,238 | $54,906 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $42,022 | $54,625 |
Top and bottom GS-6 localities in 2023
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-6 pay scale
GS-6 is part of the 2023 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
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-6 questions for 2023
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What is the starting salary for GS-6 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GS-6 in 2023 is $36,070 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2023 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 44.15%), GS-6 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-6 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-6 to GS-7?
Promotion from GS-6 to GS-7 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-6 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-7 vacancy. Open the GS-7 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-6?
GS-6 is roughly equivalent to O-1 Second Lieutenant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.