2024 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.55% 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 $95,694 in Philadelphia.
2024 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $95,694 | $3,680.54 | $45.85 | +$21,253 |
| Step 2 | $98,883 | $3,803.19 | $47.38 | +$21,961 |
| Step 3 | $102,073 | $3,925.88 | $48.91 | +$22,670 |
| Step 4 | $105,262 | $4,048.54 | $50.44 | +$23,378 |
| Step 5 | $108,451 | $4,171.19 | $51.97 | +$24,086 |
| Step 6 | $111,641 | $4,293.88 | $53.49 | +$24,795 |
| Step 7 | $114,830 | $4,416.54 | $55.02 | +$25,503 |
| Step 8 | $118,019 | $4,539.19 | $56.55 | +$26,211 |
| Step 9 | $121,209 | $4,661.88 | $58.08 | +$26,920 |
| Step 10 | $124,398 | $4,784.54 | $59.61 | +$27,628 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.55% 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 | $95,694 | $3,680.54 | $45.85 | +$21,253 |
| Step 2 | $98,883 | $3,803.19 | $47.38 | +$21,961 |
| Step 3 | $102,073 | $3,925.88 | $48.91 | +$22,670 |
| Step 4 | $105,262 | $4,048.54 | $50.44 | +$23,378 |
| Step 5 | $108,451 | $4,171.19 | $51.97 | +$24,086 |
| Step 6 | $111,641 | $4,293.88 | $53.49 | +$24,795 |
| Step 7 | $114,830 | $4,416.54 | $55.02 | +$25,503 |
| Step 8 | $118,019 | $4,539.19 | $56.55 | +$26,211 |
| Step 9 | $121,209 | $4,661.88 | $58.08 | +$26,920 |
| Step 10 | $124,398 | $4,784.54 | $59.61 | +$27,628 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.55% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,681 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,785. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-12 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Philadelphia?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $95,694 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $124,398. This is 28.55% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2024, it is 28.55%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,253 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,681 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.