2024 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 45.41% 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 $178,914 in San Francisco.
2024 GS-15 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $178,914 | $6,881.31 | $85.73 | +$55,873 |
| Step 2 | $184,877 | $7,110.65 | $88.59 | +$57,735 |
| Step 3 | $190,840 | $7,340.00 | $91.44 | +$59,597 |
| Step 4 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$56,556 |
| Step 5 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$52,455 |
| Step 6 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$48,354 |
| Step 7 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$44,253 |
| 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 San Francisco
Each step below already includes the 45.41% 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 | $178,914 | $6,881.31 | $85.73 | +$55,873 |
| Step 2 | $184,877 | $7,110.65 | $88.59 | +$57,735 |
| Step 3 | $190,840 | $7,340.00 | $91.44 | +$59,597 |
| Step 4 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$56,556 |
| Step 5 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$52,455 |
| Step 6 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$48,354 |
| Step 7 | $191,900 | $7,380.77 | $91.95 | +$44,253 |
| 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 San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 45.41% 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 San Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $6,881 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 San Francisco page.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-15 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in San Francisco?
In 2024, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $178,914 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $191,900. This is 45.41% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2024, it is 45.41%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $55,873 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $6,881 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.