2024 GS-15 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.55% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $123,041 on the base table to $158,169 in Philadelphia.
2024 GS-15 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $158,169 | $6,083.42 | $75.79 | +$35,128 |
| Step 2 | $163,441 | $6,286.19 | $78.31 | +$36,299 |
| Step 3 | $168,713 | $6,488.96 | $80.84 | +$37,470 |
| Step 4 | $173,985 | $6,691.73 | $83.37 | +$38,641 |
| Step 5 | $179,257 | $6,894.50 | $85.89 | +$39,812 |
| Step 6 | $184,528 | $7,097.23 | $88.42 | +$40,982 |
| Step 7 | $189,800 | $7,300.00 | $90.94 | +$42,153 |
| Step 8 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$40,152 |
| Step 9 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$36,051 |
| Step 10 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$31,950 |
2024 GS-15 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.55% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $158,169 | $6,083.42 | $75.79 | +$35,128 |
| Step 2 | $163,441 | $6,286.19 | $78.31 | +$36,299 |
| Step 3 | $168,713 | $6,488.96 | $80.84 | +$37,470 |
| Step 4 | $173,985 | $6,691.73 | $83.37 | +$38,641 |
| Step 5 | $179,257 | $6,894.50 | $85.89 | +$39,812 |
| Step 6 | $184,528 | $7,097.23 | $88.42 | +$40,982 |
| Step 7 | $189,800 | $7,300.00 | $90.94 | +$42,153 |
| Step 8 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$40,152 |
| Step 9 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$36,051 |
| Step 10 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$31,950 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2024, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.55% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $6,083 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,381. 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-15 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-15 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Philadelphia?
In 2024, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $158,169 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $191,900. This is 28.55% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2024, it is 28.55%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $35,128 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $6,083 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.