2024 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.26% 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 $117,962 in Washington DC.
2024 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,962 | $4,537.00 | $56.52 | +$29,442 |
| Step 2 | $121,894 | $4,688.23 | $58.41 | +$30,423 |
| Step 3 | $125,827 | $4,839.50 | $60.29 | +$31,405 |
| Step 4 | $129,759 | $4,990.73 | $62.17 | +$32,386 |
| Step 5 | $133,692 | $5,142.00 | $64.06 | +$33,368 |
| Step 6 | $137,624 | $5,293.23 | $65.94 | +$34,349 |
| Step 7 | $141,557 | $5,444.50 | $67.83 | +$35,331 |
| Step 8 | $145,489 | $5,595.73 | $69.71 | +$36,312 |
| Step 9 | $149,422 | $5,747.00 | $71.60 | +$37,294 |
| Step 10 | $153,354 | $5,898.23 | $73.48 | +$38,275 |
2024 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.26% 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 | $117,962 | $4,537.00 | $56.52 | +$29,442 |
| Step 2 | $121,894 | $4,688.23 | $58.41 | +$30,423 |
| Step 3 | $125,827 | $4,839.50 | $60.29 | +$31,405 |
| Step 4 | $129,759 | $4,990.73 | $62.17 | +$32,386 |
| Step 5 | $133,692 | $5,142.00 | $64.06 | +$33,368 |
| Step 6 | $137,624 | $5,293.23 | $65.94 | +$34,349 |
| Step 7 | $141,557 | $5,444.50 | $67.83 | +$35,331 |
| Step 8 | $145,489 | $5,595.73 | $69.71 | +$36,312 |
| Step 9 | $149,422 | $5,747.00 | $71.60 | +$37,294 |
| Step 10 | $153,354 | $5,898.23 | $73.48 | +$38,275 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 33.26% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,537 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,898. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2024, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $117,962 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $153,354. This is 33.26% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2024, it is 33.26%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,442 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,537 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.