2025 GS-12 Pay in Denver
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $98,811 in Denver.
2025 GS-12 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $98,811 | $3,800.42 | $47.35 | +$23,105 |
| Step 2 | $102,106 | $3,927.15 | $48.92 | +$23,876 |
| Step 3 | $105,400 | $4,053.85 | $50.50 | +$24,646 |
| Step 4 | $108,694 | $4,180.54 | $52.08 | +$25,416 |
| Step 5 | $111,989 | $4,307.27 | $53.66 | +$26,187 |
| Step 6 | $115,283 | $4,433.96 | $55.24 | +$26,957 |
| Step 7 | $118,577 | $4,560.65 | $56.82 | +$27,727 |
| Step 8 | $121,872 | $4,687.38 | $58.40 | +$28,498 |
| Step 9 | $125,166 | $4,814.08 | $59.97 | +$29,268 |
| Step 10 | $128,460 | $4,940.77 | $61.55 | +$30,038 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $98,811 | $3,800.42 | $47.35 | +$23,105 |
| Step 2 | $102,106 | $3,927.15 | $48.92 | +$23,876 |
| Step 3 | $105,400 | $4,053.85 | $50.50 | +$24,646 |
| Step 4 | $108,694 | $4,180.54 | $52.08 | +$25,416 |
| Step 5 | $111,989 | $4,307.27 | $53.66 | +$26,187 |
| Step 6 | $115,283 | $4,433.96 | $55.24 | +$26,957 |
| Step 7 | $118,577 | $4,560.65 | $56.82 | +$27,727 |
| Step 8 | $121,872 | $4,687.38 | $58.40 | +$28,498 |
| Step 9 | $125,166 | $4,814.08 | $59.97 | +$29,268 |
| Step 10 | $128,460 | $4,940.77 | $61.55 | +$30,038 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,800 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,941. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-12 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Denver?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $98,811 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $128,460. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2025, it is 30.52%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,105 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,800 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.