2025 GS-12 Pay in Phoenix
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Phoenix-Mesa, AZ earn 22.45% 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 $92,702 in Phoenix.
2025 GS-12 Pay in Phoenix
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Phoenix-Mesa, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $92,702 | $3,565.46 | $44.42 | +$16,996 |
| Step 2 | $95,793 | $3,684.35 | $45.90 | +$17,563 |
| Step 3 | $98,883 | $3,803.19 | $47.38 | +$18,129 |
| Step 4 | $101,974 | $3,922.08 | $48.86 | +$18,696 |
| Step 5 | $105,065 | $4,040.96 | $50.34 | +$19,263 |
| Step 6 | $108,155 | $4,159.81 | $51.82 | +$19,829 |
| Step 7 | $111,246 | $4,278.69 | $53.30 | +$20,396 |
| Step 8 | $114,336 | $4,397.54 | $54.78 | +$20,962 |
| Step 9 | $117,427 | $4,516.42 | $56.27 | +$21,529 |
| Step 10 | $120,518 | $4,635.31 | $57.75 | +$22,096 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Phoenix
Each step below already includes the 22.45% 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 | $92,702 | $3,565.46 | $44.42 | +$16,996 |
| Step 2 | $95,793 | $3,684.35 | $45.90 | +$17,563 |
| Step 3 | $98,883 | $3,803.19 | $47.38 | +$18,129 |
| Step 4 | $101,974 | $3,922.08 | $48.86 | +$18,696 |
| Step 5 | $105,065 | $4,040.96 | $50.34 | +$19,263 |
| Step 6 | $108,155 | $4,159.81 | $51.82 | +$19,829 |
| Step 7 | $111,246 | $4,278.69 | $53.30 | +$20,396 |
| Step 8 | $114,336 | $4,397.54 | $54.78 | +$20,962 |
| Step 9 | $117,427 | $4,516.42 | $56.27 | +$21,529 |
| Step 10 | $120,518 | $4,635.31 | $57.75 | +$22,096 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Phoenix pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Phoenix: 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 Phoenix pay area adds a 22.45% 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 Phoenix
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns roughly $3,565 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,635. 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 Phoenix page.
Other grades in Phoenix
GS-12 in Phoenix questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Phoenix?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns $92,702 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $120,518. This is 22.45% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Phoenix?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Phoenix in 2025, it is 22.45%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,996 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Phoenix?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Phoenix earns roughly $3,565 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.