2024 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.82% 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 $86,962 in Rest of U.S..
2024 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $86,962 | $3,344.69 | $41.67 | +$12,521 |
| Step 2 | $89,860 | $3,456.15 | $43.06 | +$12,938 |
| Step 3 | $92,759 | $3,567.65 | $44.45 | +$13,356 |
| Step 4 | $95,657 | $3,679.12 | $45.83 | +$13,773 |
| Step 5 | $98,555 | $3,790.58 | $47.22 | +$14,190 |
| Step 6 | $101,453 | $3,902.04 | $48.61 | +$14,607 |
| Step 7 | $104,352 | $4,013.54 | $50.00 | +$15,025 |
| Step 8 | $107,250 | $4,125.00 | $51.39 | +$15,442 |
| Step 9 | $110,148 | $4,236.46 | $52.78 | +$15,859 |
| Step 10 | $113,047 | $4,347.96 | $54.17 | +$16,277 |
2024 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.82% 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 | $86,962 | $3,344.69 | $41.67 | +$12,521 |
| Step 2 | $89,860 | $3,456.15 | $43.06 | +$12,938 |
| Step 3 | $92,759 | $3,567.65 | $44.45 | +$13,356 |
| Step 4 | $95,657 | $3,679.12 | $45.83 | +$13,773 |
| Step 5 | $98,555 | $3,790.58 | $47.22 | +$14,190 |
| Step 6 | $101,453 | $3,902.04 | $48.61 | +$14,607 |
| Step 7 | $104,352 | $4,013.54 | $50.00 | +$15,025 |
| Step 8 | $107,250 | $4,125.00 | $51.39 | +$15,442 |
| Step 9 | $110,148 | $4,236.46 | $52.78 | +$15,859 |
| Step 10 | $113,047 | $4,347.96 | $54.17 | +$16,277 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.82% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,345 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,348. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2024, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $86,962 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $113,047. This is 16.82% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2024, it is 16.82%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,521 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,345 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.