2024 GS-13 Pay in San Diego
GS-13 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.05% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $88,520 on the base table to $117,776 in San Diego.
2024 GS-13 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,776 | $4,529.85 | $56.43 | +$29,256 |
| Step 2 | $121,702 | $4,680.85 | $58.31 | +$30,231 |
| Step 3 | $125,628 | $4,831.85 | $60.20 | +$31,206 |
| Step 4 | $129,555 | $4,982.88 | $62.08 | +$32,182 |
| Step 5 | $133,481 | $5,133.88 | $63.96 | +$33,157 |
| Step 6 | $137,407 | $5,284.88 | $65.84 | +$34,132 |
| Step 7 | $141,334 | $5,435.92 | $67.72 | +$35,108 |
| Step 8 | $145,260 | $5,586.92 | $69.60 | +$36,083 |
| Step 9 | $149,186 | $5,737.92 | $71.48 | +$37,058 |
| Step 10 | $153,113 | $5,888.96 | $73.37 | +$38,034 |
2024 GS-13 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.05% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,776 | $4,529.85 | $56.43 | +$29,256 |
| Step 2 | $121,702 | $4,680.85 | $58.31 | +$30,231 |
| Step 3 | $125,628 | $4,831.85 | $60.20 | +$31,206 |
| Step 4 | $129,555 | $4,982.88 | $62.08 | +$32,182 |
| Step 5 | $133,481 | $5,133.88 | $63.96 | +$33,157 |
| Step 6 | $137,407 | $5,284.88 | $65.84 | +$34,132 |
| Step 7 | $141,334 | $5,435.92 | $67.72 | +$35,108 |
| Step 8 | $145,260 | $5,586.92 | $69.60 | +$36,083 |
| Step 9 | $149,186 | $5,737.92 | $71.48 | +$37,058 |
| Step 10 | $153,113 | $5,888.96 | $73.37 | +$38,034 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in San Diego: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2024, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.05% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $4,530 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,889. 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-13 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-13 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in San Diego?
In 2024, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $117,776 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $153,113. This is 33.05% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2024, it is 33.05%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,256 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $4,530 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.