An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,907 GS-3 Step 1 in Buffalo (2024)
$42,777 GS-3 Step 10 in Buffalo (2024)
+$5,932 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-3 pay table for Buffalo

Each step below already includes the 21.99% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $32,907 $1,265.65 $15.77 +$5,932
Step 2 $34,003 $1,307.81 $16.29 +$6,129
Step 3 $35,100 $1,350.00 $16.82 +$6,327
Step 4 $36,197 $1,392.19 $17.34 +$6,525
Step 5 $37,294 $1,434.38 $17.87 +$6,723
Step 6 $38,390 $1,476.54 $18.39 +$6,920
Step 7 $39,487 $1,518.73 $18.92 +$7,118
Step 8 $40,584 $1,560.92 $19.45 +$7,316
Step 9 $41,680 $1,603.08 $19.97 +$7,513
Step 10 $42,777 $1,645.27 $20.50 +$7,711
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Buffalo pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $26,975
  • Buffalo GS-3 Step 1 $32,907
  • Locality add-on +$5,932
  • Adjustment percent 21.99%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $35,066
  • Buffalo GS-3 Step 10 $42,777

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-3 in Buffalo: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2024, the Buffalo pay area adds a 21.99% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Buffalo

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $1,266 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,645. 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-3 Buffalo page.

Other grades in Buffalo

GS-3 in Buffalo questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Buffalo?
    In 2024, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns $32,907 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,777. This is 21.99% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Buffalo?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Buffalo in 2024, it is 21.99%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,932 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Buffalo?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $1,266 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.