2024 GS-13 Pay Scale
The GS-13 base salary range for 2024 is $88,520 at Step 1, rising to $115,079 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-13 for 2024.
2024 GS-13 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-13 rates for 2024.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,520 | $3,404.62 | $42.41 | - |
| Step 2 | $91,471 | $3,518.12 | $43.83 | - |
| Step 3 | $94,422 | $3,631.62 | $45.24 | - |
| Step 4 | $97,373 | $3,745.12 | $46.66 | - |
| Step 5 | $100,324 | $3,858.62 | $48.07 | - |
| Step 6 | $103,275 | $3,972.12 | $49.48 | - |
| Step 7 | $106,226 | $4,085.62 | $50.90 | - |
| Step 8 | $109,177 | $4,199.12 | $52.31 | - |
| Step 9 | $112,128 | $4,312.62 | $53.73 | - |
| Step 10 | $115,079 | $4,426.12 | $55.14 | - |
2024 GS-13 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-13 salary schedule for 2024, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,520 | $3,404.62 | $42.41 | - |
| Step 2 | $91,471 | $3,518.12 | $43.83 | - |
| Step 3 | $94,422 | $3,631.62 | $45.24 | - |
| Step 4 | $97,373 | $3,745.12 | $46.66 | - |
| Step 5 | $100,324 | $3,858.62 | $48.07 | - |
| Step 6 | $103,275 | $3,972.12 | $49.48 | - |
| Step 7 | $106,226 | $4,085.62 | $50.90 | - |
| Step 8 | $109,177 | $4,199.12 | $52.31 | - |
| Step 9 | $112,128 | $4,312.62 | $53.73 | - |
| Step 10 | $115,079 | $4,426.12 | $55.14 | - |
Who is a GS-13?
Typical role. Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level.
Career progression. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-13 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-13 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2024, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-13 Step 1 | GS-13 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 45.41% | $128,717 | $167,336 |
| New York-Newark | 37.24% | $121,485 | $157,934 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 35.84% | $120,246 | $156,323 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.72% | $119,254 | $155,034 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.26% | $117,962 | $153,354 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.05% | $117,776 | $153,113 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.97% | $116,820 | $151,870 |
| State of Alaska | 31.96% | $116,811 | $151,858 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 31.62% | $116,510 | $151,467 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 30.81% | $115,793 | $150,535 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.41% | $115,439 | $150,075 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.88% | $114,970 | $149,465 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.16% | $114,332 | $148,636 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.82% | $114,031 | $148,245 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.55% | $113,792 | $147,934 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.15% | $112,553 | $146,323 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.91% | $112,341 | $146,047 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 25.66% | $111,234 | $144,608 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.42% | $110,137 | $143,181 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.45% | $109,278 | $142,065 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.15% | $108,127 | $140,569 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.02% | $108,012 | $140,419 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.01% | $108,003 | $140,408 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.99% | $107,986 | $140,385 |
| Richmond | 21.91% | $107,915 | $140,293 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.90% | $107,906 | $140,281 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.80% | $107,817 | $140,166 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.79% | $107,809 | $140,155 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.69% | $107,720 | $140,040 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.48% | $107,534 | $139,798 |
| Laredo | 21.33% | $107,401 | $139,625 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.14% | $107,233 | $139,407 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.78% | $106,914 | $138,992 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.25% | $106,445 | $138,382 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.99% | $106,215 | $138,083 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.73% | $105,985 | $137,784 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.63% | $105,896 | $137,669 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.26% | $105,569 | $137,243 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.23% | $105,542 | $137,209 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.10% | $105,427 | $137,059 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.97% | $105,312 | $136,909 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.92% | $105,268 | $136,852 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.66% | $105,038 | $136,553 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.65% | $105,029 | $136,541 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.49% | $104,887 | $136,357 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.46% | $104,861 | $136,323 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.05% | $104,498 | $135,851 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.94% | $104,400 | $135,724 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.91% | $104,374 | $135,690 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.89% | $104,356 | $135,667 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.68% | $104,170 | $135,425 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.60% | $104,100 | $135,333 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.40% | $103,922 | $135,103 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.35% | $103,878 | $135,045 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.18% | $103,728 | $134,850 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.15% | $103,701 | $134,815 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.11% | $103,666 | $134,769 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.82% | $103,409 | $134,435 |
Top and bottom GS-13 localities in 2024
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-13 pay scale
GS-13 is part of the 2024 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2024
GS-13 questions for 2024
-
What is the starting salary for GS-13 in 2024?
The base starting salary for GS-13 in 2024 is $88,520 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2024 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 45.41%), GS-13 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-13 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-13 to GS-14?
Promotion from GS-13 to GS-14 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-14 vacancy. Open the GS-14 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-13?
GS-13 is roughly equivalent to O-5 Lieutenant Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.