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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$76,874 GS-10 Step 1 in San Diego (2025)
$99,933 GS-10 Step 10 in San Diego (2025)
+$19,385 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-10 pay table for San Diego

Each step below already includes the 33.72% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-10 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $76,874 $2,956.69 $36.83 +$19,385
Step 2 $79,436 $3,055.23 $38.06 +$20,031
Step 3 $81,998 $3,153.77 $39.29 +$20,677
Step 4 $84,561 $3,252.35 $40.52 +$21,324
Step 5 $87,123 $3,350.88 $41.75 +$21,970
Step 6 $89,685 $3,449.42 $42.97 +$22,616
Step 7 $92,247 $3,547.96 $44.20 +$23,262
Step 8 $94,809 $3,646.50 $45.43 +$23,908
Step 9 $97,371 $3,745.04 $46.66 +$24,554
Step 10 $99,933 $3,843.58 $47.88 +$25,200
← GS-9 Calculate my take-home GS-11 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Diego pays

  • Base GS-10 Step 1 $57,489
  • San Diego GS-10 Step 1 $76,874
  • Locality add-on +$19,385
  • Adjustment percent 33.72%
  • Base GS-10 Step 10 $74,733
  • San Diego GS-10 Step 10 $99,933

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-10 in San Diego: what to expect

Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.

For 2025, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in San Diego

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,957 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,844. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2025 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-10 San Diego page.

Other grades in San Diego

GS-10 in San Diego questions

  • How much does a GS-10 make in San Diego?
    In 2025, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $76,874 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $99,933. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-10 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in San Diego?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2025, it is 33.72%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,385 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in San Diego?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,957 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.