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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$92,433 GS-11 Step 1 in San Francisco (2025)
$120,157 GS-11 Step 10 in San Francisco (2025)
+$29,270 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-11 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 46.34% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $92,433 $3,555.12 $44.29 +$29,270
Step 2 $95,513 $3,673.58 $45.77 +$30,245
Step 3 $98,594 $3,792.08 $47.24 +$31,221
Step 4 $101,674 $3,910.54 $48.72 +$32,196
Step 5 $104,755 $4,029.04 $50.19 +$33,172
Step 6 $107,835 $4,147.50 $51.67 +$34,147
Step 7 $110,915 $4,265.96 $53.15 +$35,122
Step 8 $113,996 $4,384.46 $54.62 +$36,098
Step 9 $117,076 $4,502.92 $56.10 +$37,073
Step 10 $120,157 $4,621.42 $57.57 +$38,049
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $63,163
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 1 $92,433
  • Locality add-on +$29,270
  • Adjustment percent 46.34%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $82,108
  • San Francisco GS-11 Step 10 $120,157

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-11 in San Francisco: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2025, the San Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 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-11 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,555 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,621. 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-11 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-11 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in San Francisco?
    In 2025, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $92,433 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $120,157. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2025, it is 46.34%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,270 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $3,555 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.