2025 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $97,653 in Philadelphia.
2025 GS-12 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $97,653 | $3,755.88 | $46.79 | +$21,947 |
| Step 2 | $100,909 | $3,881.12 | $48.35 | +$22,679 |
| Step 3 | $104,165 | $4,006.35 | $49.91 | +$23,411 |
| Step 4 | $107,420 | $4,131.54 | $51.47 | +$24,142 |
| Step 5 | $110,676 | $4,256.77 | $53.03 | +$24,874 |
| Step 6 | $113,932 | $4,382.00 | $54.59 | +$25,606 |
| Step 7 | $117,187 | $4,507.19 | $56.15 | +$26,337 |
| Step 8 | $120,443 | $4,632.42 | $57.71 | +$27,069 |
| Step 9 | $123,699 | $4,757.65 | $59.27 | +$27,801 |
| Step 10 | $126,955 | $4,882.88 | $60.83 | +$28,533 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $97,653 | $3,755.88 | $46.79 | +$21,947 |
| Step 2 | $100,909 | $3,881.12 | $48.35 | +$22,679 |
| Step 3 | $104,165 | $4,006.35 | $49.91 | +$23,411 |
| Step 4 | $107,420 | $4,131.54 | $51.47 | +$24,142 |
| Step 5 | $110,676 | $4,256.77 | $53.03 | +$24,874 |
| Step 6 | $113,932 | $4,382.00 | $54.59 | +$25,606 |
| Step 7 | $117,187 | $4,507.19 | $56.15 | +$26,337 |
| Step 8 | $120,443 | $4,632.42 | $57.71 | +$27,069 |
| Step 9 | $123,699 | $4,757.65 | $59.27 | +$27,801 |
| Step 10 | $126,955 | $4,882.88 | $60.83 | +$28,533 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,756 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,883. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-12 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Philadelphia?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $97,653 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $126,955. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2025, it is 28.99%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,947 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $3,756 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.