2024 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2024 is $123,041 at Step 1, rising to $159,950 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-15 for 2024.
2024 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2024.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $123,041 | $4,732.35 | $58.96 | - |
| Step 2 | $127,142 | $4,890.08 | $60.92 | - |
| Step 3 | $131,243 | $5,047.81 | $62.89 | - |
| Step 4 | $135,344 | $5,205.54 | $64.85 | - |
| Step 5 | $139,445 | $5,363.27 | $66.82 | - |
| Step 6 | $143,546 | $5,521.00 | $68.78 | - |
| Step 7 | $147,647 | $5,678.73 | $70.75 | - |
| Step 8 | $151,748 | $5,836.46 | $72.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $155,849 | $5,994.19 | $74.68 | - |
| Step 10 | $159,950 | $6,151.92 | $76.64 | - |
2024 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 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 | $123,041 | $4,732.35 | $58.96 | - |
| Step 2 | $127,142 | $4,890.08 | $60.92 | - |
| Step 3 | $131,243 | $5,047.81 | $62.89 | - |
| Step 4 | $135,344 | $5,205.54 | $64.85 | - |
| Step 5 | $139,445 | $5,363.27 | $66.82 | - |
| Step 6 | $143,546 | $5,521.00 | $68.78 | - |
| Step 7 | $147,647 | $5,678.73 | $70.75 | - |
| Step 8 | $151,748 | $5,836.46 | $72.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $155,849 | $5,994.19 | $74.68 | - |
| Step 10 | $159,950 | $6,151.92 | $76.64 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2024, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 45.41% | $178,914 | $191,900 |
| New York-Newark | 37.24% | $168,861 | $191,900 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 35.84% | $167,139 | $191,900 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.72% | $165,761 | $191,900 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.26% | $163,964 | $191,900 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.05% | $163,706 | $191,900 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.97% | $162,377 | $191,900 |
| State of Alaska | 31.96% | $162,365 | $191,900 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 31.62% | $161,947 | $191,900 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 30.81% | $160,950 | $191,900 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.41% | $160,458 | $0 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.88% | $159,806 | $191,900 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.16% | $158,920 | $0 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.82% | $158,501 | $191,900 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.55% | $158,169 | $191,900 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.15% | $156,447 | $191,900 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.91% | $156,151 | $191,900 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 25.66% | $154,613 | $191,900 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.42% | $153,088 | $191,900 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.45% | $151,894 | $191,900 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.15% | $150,295 | $191,900 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.02% | $150,135 | $191,900 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.01% | $150,122 | $191,900 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.99% | $150,098 | $191,900 |
| Richmond | 21.91% | $149,999 | $191,900 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.90% | $149,987 | $191,900 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.80% | $149,864 | $191,900 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.79% | $149,852 | $191,900 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.69% | $149,729 | $191,900 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.48% | $149,470 | $191,900 |
| Laredo | 21.33% | $149,286 | $191,900 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.14% | $149,052 | $191,900 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.78% | $148,609 | $191,900 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.25% | $147,957 | $191,900 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.99% | $147,637 | $191,900 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.73% | $147,317 | $191,508 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.63% | $147,194 | $191,348 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.26% | $146,739 | $190,756 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.23% | $146,702 | $190,708 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.10% | $146,542 | $190,500 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.97% | $146,382 | $190,293 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.92% | $146,320 | $190,213 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.66% | $146,000 | $189,797 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.65% | $145,988 | $189,781 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.49% | $145,791 | $189,525 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.46% | $145,754 | $189,477 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.05% | $145,250 | $188,821 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.94% | $145,115 | $188,645 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.91% | $145,078 | $188,597 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.89% | $145,053 | $188,565 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.68% | $144,795 | $188,229 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.60% | $144,696 | $188,101 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.40% | $144,450 | $187,781 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.35% | $144,389 | $187,701 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.18% | $144,179 | $187,429 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.15% | $144,143 | $187,381 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.11% | $144,093 | $187,317 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.82% | $143,736 | $186,854 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2024
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2024 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
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-15 questions for 2024
-
What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2024?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2024 is $123,041 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2024 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 45.41%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 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-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.