2024 GS-12 Pay in Denver
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 29.88% 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 $96,684 in Denver.
2024 GS-12 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $96,684 | $3,718.62 | $46.33 | +$22,243 |
| Step 2 | $99,906 | $3,842.54 | $47.87 | +$22,984 |
| Step 3 | $103,129 | $3,966.50 | $49.41 | +$23,726 |
| Step 4 | $106,351 | $4,090.42 | $50.96 | +$24,467 |
| Step 5 | $109,573 | $4,214.35 | $52.50 | +$25,208 |
| Step 6 | $112,796 | $4,338.31 | $54.05 | +$25,950 |
| Step 7 | $116,018 | $4,462.23 | $55.59 | +$26,691 |
| Step 8 | $119,240 | $4,586.15 | $57.13 | +$27,432 |
| Step 9 | $122,463 | $4,710.12 | $58.68 | +$28,174 |
| Step 10 | $125,685 | $4,834.04 | $60.22 | +$28,915 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 29.88% 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 | $96,684 | $3,718.62 | $46.33 | +$22,243 |
| Step 2 | $99,906 | $3,842.54 | $47.87 | +$22,984 |
| Step 3 | $103,129 | $3,966.50 | $49.41 | +$23,726 |
| Step 4 | $106,351 | $4,090.42 | $50.96 | +$24,467 |
| Step 5 | $109,573 | $4,214.35 | $52.50 | +$25,208 |
| Step 6 | $112,796 | $4,338.31 | $54.05 | +$25,950 |
| Step 7 | $116,018 | $4,462.23 | $55.59 | +$26,691 |
| Step 8 | $119,240 | $4,586.15 | $57.13 | +$27,432 |
| Step 9 | $122,463 | $4,710.12 | $58.68 | +$28,174 |
| Step 10 | $125,685 | $4,834.04 | $60.22 | +$28,915 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 29.88% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,719 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,834. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-12 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Denver?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $96,684 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $125,685. This is 29.88% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2024, it is 29.88%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,243 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,719 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.