2025 GS-12 Pay in Tucson
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Tucson-Nogales, AZ earn 19.28% 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 $90,302 in Tucson.
2025 GS-12 Pay in Tucson
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Tucson-Nogales, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,302 | $3,473.15 | $43.27 | +$14,596 |
| Step 2 | $93,313 | $3,588.96 | $44.71 | +$15,083 |
| Step 3 | $96,323 | $3,704.73 | $46.15 | +$15,569 |
| Step 4 | $99,334 | $3,820.54 | $47.60 | +$16,056 |
| Step 5 | $102,345 | $3,936.35 | $49.04 | +$16,543 |
| Step 6 | $105,355 | $4,052.12 | $50.48 | +$17,029 |
| Step 7 | $108,366 | $4,167.92 | $51.92 | +$17,516 |
| Step 8 | $111,377 | $4,283.73 | $53.37 | +$18,003 |
| Step 9 | $114,387 | $4,399.50 | $54.81 | +$18,489 |
| Step 10 | $117,398 | $4,515.31 | $56.25 | +$18,976 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Tucson
Each step below already includes the 19.28% 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 | $90,302 | $3,473.15 | $43.27 | +$14,596 |
| Step 2 | $93,313 | $3,588.96 | $44.71 | +$15,083 |
| Step 3 | $96,323 | $3,704.73 | $46.15 | +$15,569 |
| Step 4 | $99,334 | $3,820.54 | $47.60 | +$16,056 |
| Step 5 | $102,345 | $3,936.35 | $49.04 | +$16,543 |
| Step 6 | $105,355 | $4,052.12 | $50.48 | +$17,029 |
| Step 7 | $108,366 | $4,167.92 | $51.92 | +$17,516 |
| Step 8 | $111,377 | $4,283.73 | $53.37 | +$18,003 |
| Step 9 | $114,387 | $4,399.50 | $54.81 | +$18,489 |
| Step 10 | $117,398 | $4,515.31 | $56.25 | +$18,976 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Tucson pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Tucson: 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 Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $3,473 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,515. 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 Tucson page.
Other grades in Tucson
GS-12 in Tucson questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Tucson?
In 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $90,302 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $117,398. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Tucson?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Tucson in 2025, it is 19.28%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,596 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Tucson?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $3,473 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.