2025 GS-12 Pay in Boston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $75,706 on the base table to $100,371 in Boston.
2025 GS-12 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $100,371 | $3,860.42 | $48.09 | +$24,665 |
| Step 2 | $103,717 | $3,989.12 | $49.70 | +$25,487 |
| Step 3 | $107,064 | $4,117.85 | $51.30 | +$26,310 |
| Step 4 | $110,410 | $4,246.54 | $52.90 | +$27,132 |
| Step 5 | $113,756 | $4,375.23 | $54.51 | +$27,954 |
| Step 6 | $117,103 | $4,503.96 | $56.11 | +$28,777 |
| Step 7 | $120,449 | $4,632.65 | $57.71 | +$29,599 |
| Step 8 | $123,795 | $4,761.35 | $59.32 | +$30,421 |
| Step 9 | $127,142 | $4,890.08 | $60.92 | +$31,244 |
| Step 10 | $130,488 | $5,018.77 | $62.52 | +$32,066 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $100,371 | $3,860.42 | $48.09 | +$24,665 |
| Step 2 | $103,717 | $3,989.12 | $49.70 | +$25,487 |
| Step 3 | $107,064 | $4,117.85 | $51.30 | +$26,310 |
| Step 4 | $110,410 | $4,246.54 | $52.90 | +$27,132 |
| Step 5 | $113,756 | $4,375.23 | $54.51 | +$27,954 |
| Step 6 | $117,103 | $4,503.96 | $56.11 | +$28,777 |
| Step 7 | $120,449 | $4,632.65 | $57.71 | +$29,599 |
| Step 8 | $123,795 | $4,761.35 | $59.32 | +$30,421 |
| Step 9 | $127,142 | $4,890.08 | $60.92 | +$31,244 |
| Step 10 | $130,488 | $5,018.77 | $62.52 | +$32,066 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Boston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2025, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,860 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,019. 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-12 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-12 in Boston questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Boston?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $100,371 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $130,488. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2025, it is 32.58%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,665 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $3,860 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.