2024 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 35.84% 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 $101,121 in Los Angeles.
2024 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $101,121 | $3,889.27 | $48.45 | +$26,680 |
| Step 2 | $104,491 | $4,018.88 | $50.07 | +$27,569 |
| Step 3 | $107,861 | $4,148.50 | $51.68 | +$28,458 |
| Step 4 | $111,231 | $4,278.12 | $53.30 | +$29,347 |
| Step 5 | $114,601 | $4,407.73 | $54.91 | +$30,236 |
| Step 6 | $117,972 | $4,537.38 | $56.53 | +$31,126 |
| Step 7 | $121,342 | $4,667.00 | $58.14 | +$32,015 |
| Step 8 | $124,712 | $4,796.62 | $59.76 | +$32,904 |
| Step 9 | $128,082 | $4,926.23 | $61.37 | +$33,793 |
| Step 10 | $131,452 | $5,055.85 | $62.99 | +$34,682 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 35.84% 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 | $101,121 | $3,889.27 | $48.45 | +$26,680 |
| Step 2 | $104,491 | $4,018.88 | $50.07 | +$27,569 |
| Step 3 | $107,861 | $4,148.50 | $51.68 | +$28,458 |
| Step 4 | $111,231 | $4,278.12 | $53.30 | +$29,347 |
| Step 5 | $114,601 | $4,407.73 | $54.91 | +$30,236 |
| Step 6 | $117,972 | $4,537.38 | $56.53 | +$31,126 |
| Step 7 | $121,342 | $4,667.00 | $58.14 | +$32,015 |
| Step 8 | $124,712 | $4,796.62 | $59.76 | +$32,904 |
| Step 9 | $128,082 | $4,926.23 | $61.37 | +$33,793 |
| Step 10 | $131,452 | $5,055.85 | $62.99 | +$34,682 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 35.84% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $3,889 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,056. 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 Los Angeles page.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-12 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Los Angeles?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $101,121 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $131,452. This is 35.84% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2024, it is 35.84%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,680 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $3,889 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.