2024 GS-12 Pay in Boston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 31.97% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $74,441 on the base table to $98,240 in Boston.
2024 GS-12 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $98,240 | $3,778.46 | $47.07 | +$23,799 |
| Step 2 | $101,514 | $3,904.38 | $48.64 | +$24,592 |
| Step 3 | $104,788 | $4,030.31 | $50.21 | +$25,385 |
| Step 4 | $108,062 | $4,156.23 | $51.78 | +$26,178 |
| Step 5 | $111,336 | $4,282.15 | $53.35 | +$26,971 |
| Step 6 | $114,611 | $4,408.12 | $54.92 | +$27,765 |
| Step 7 | $117,885 | $4,534.04 | $56.49 | +$28,558 |
| Step 8 | $121,159 | $4,659.96 | $58.05 | +$29,351 |
| Step 9 | $124,433 | $4,785.88 | $59.62 | +$30,144 |
| Step 10 | $127,707 | $4,911.81 | $61.19 | +$30,937 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 31.97% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $98,240 | $3,778.46 | $47.07 | +$23,799 |
| Step 2 | $101,514 | $3,904.38 | $48.64 | +$24,592 |
| Step 3 | $104,788 | $4,030.31 | $50.21 | +$25,385 |
| Step 4 | $108,062 | $4,156.23 | $51.78 | +$26,178 |
| Step 5 | $111,336 | $4,282.15 | $53.35 | +$26,971 |
| Step 6 | $114,611 | $4,408.12 | $54.92 | +$27,765 |
| Step 7 | $117,885 | $4,534.04 | $56.49 | +$28,558 |
| Step 8 | $121,159 | $4,659.96 | $58.05 | +$29,351 |
| Step 9 | $124,433 | $4,785.88 | $59.62 | +$30,144 |
| Step 10 | $127,707 | $4,911.81 | $61.19 | +$30,937 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Boston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2024, the Boston pay area adds a 31.97% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,778 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,912. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-12 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Boston?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $98,240 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $127,707. This is 31.97% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2024, it is 31.97%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,799 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,778 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.