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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,170 GS-3 Step 1 in Charlotte (2024)
$41,820 GS-3 Step 10 in Charlotte (2024)
+$5,195 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-3 pay table for Charlotte

Each step below already includes the 19.26% 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 $32,170 $1,237.31 $15.41 +$5,195
Step 2 $33,243 $1,278.58 $15.93 +$5,369
Step 3 $34,315 $1,319.81 $16.44 +$5,542
Step 4 $35,387 $1,361.04 $16.96 +$5,715
Step 5 $36,459 $1,402.27 $17.47 +$5,888
Step 6 $37,531 $1,443.50 $17.98 +$6,061
Step 7 $38,603 $1,484.73 $18.50 +$6,234
Step 8 $39,675 $1,525.96 $19.01 +$6,407
Step 9 $40,748 $1,567.23 $19.52 +$6,581
Step 10 $41,820 $1,608.46 $20.04 +$6,754
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Charlotte pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $26,975
  • Charlotte GS-3 Step 1 $32,170
  • Locality add-on +$5,195
  • Adjustment percent 19.26%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $35,066
  • Charlotte GS-3 Step 10 $41,820

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 Charlotte: what to expect

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

For 2024, the Charlotte pay area adds a 19.26% 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 Charlotte

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,237 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,608. 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 Charlotte page.

Other grades in Charlotte

GS-3 in Charlotte questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Charlotte?
    In 2024, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $32,170 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $41,820. This is 19.26% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Charlotte?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2024, it is 19.26%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,195 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Charlotte?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,237 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.