2025 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 17.06% 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 $88,621 in Rest of U.S..
2025 GS-12 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,621 | $3,408.50 | $42.46 | +$12,915 |
| Step 2 | $91,576 | $3,522.15 | $43.88 | +$13,346 |
| Step 3 | $94,531 | $3,635.81 | $45.30 | +$13,777 |
| Step 4 | $97,485 | $3,749.42 | $46.71 | +$14,207 |
| Step 5 | $100,440 | $3,863.08 | $48.13 | +$14,638 |
| Step 6 | $103,394 | $3,976.69 | $49.54 | +$15,068 |
| Step 7 | $106,349 | $4,090.35 | $50.96 | +$15,499 |
| Step 8 | $109,304 | $4,204.00 | $52.37 | +$15,930 |
| Step 9 | $112,258 | $4,317.62 | $53.79 | +$16,360 |
| Step 10 | $115,213 | $4,431.27 | $55.21 | +$16,791 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 17.06% 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 | $88,621 | $3,408.50 | $42.46 | +$12,915 |
| Step 2 | $91,576 | $3,522.15 | $43.88 | +$13,346 |
| Step 3 | $94,531 | $3,635.81 | $45.30 | +$13,777 |
| Step 4 | $97,485 | $3,749.42 | $46.71 | +$14,207 |
| Step 5 | $100,440 | $3,863.08 | $48.13 | +$14,638 |
| Step 6 | $103,394 | $3,976.69 | $49.54 | +$15,068 |
| Step 7 | $106,349 | $4,090.35 | $50.96 | +$15,499 |
| Step 8 | $109,304 | $4,204.00 | $52.37 | +$15,930 |
| Step 9 | $112,258 | $4,317.62 | $53.79 | +$16,360 |
| Step 10 | $115,213 | $4,431.27 | $55.21 | +$16,791 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 17.06% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,409 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,431. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-12 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $88,621 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $115,213. This is 17.06% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2025, it is 17.06%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,915 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $3,409 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.