2025 GS-13 Pay Scale
The GS-13 base salary range for 2025 is $90,025 at Step 1, rising to $117,034 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-13 for 2025.
2025 GS-13 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-13 rates for 2025.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,025 | $3,462.50 | $43.14 | - |
| Step 2 | $93,026 | $3,577.92 | $44.57 | - |
| Step 3 | $96,027 | $3,693.35 | $46.01 | - |
| Step 4 | $99,028 | $3,808.77 | $47.45 | - |
| Step 5 | $102,029 | $3,924.19 | $48.89 | - |
| Step 6 | $105,030 | $4,039.62 | $50.33 | - |
| Step 7 | $108,031 | $4,155.04 | $51.76 | - |
| Step 8 | $111,032 | $4,270.46 | $53.20 | - |
| Step 9 | $114,033 | $4,385.88 | $54.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $117,034 | $4,501.31 | $56.08 | - |
2025 GS-13 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-13 salary schedule for 2025, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,025 | $3,462.50 | $43.14 | - |
| Step 2 | $93,026 | $3,577.92 | $44.57 | - |
| Step 3 | $96,027 | $3,693.35 | $46.01 | - |
| Step 4 | $99,028 | $3,808.77 | $47.45 | - |
| Step 5 | $102,029 | $3,924.19 | $48.89 | - |
| Step 6 | $105,030 | $4,039.62 | $50.33 | - |
| Step 7 | $108,031 | $4,155.04 | $51.76 | - |
| Step 8 | $111,032 | $4,270.46 | $53.20 | - |
| Step 9 | $114,033 | $4,385.88 | $54.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $117,034 | $4,501.31 | $56.08 | - |
Who is a GS-13?
Typical role. Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level.
Career progression. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-13 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-13 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2025, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-13 Step 1 | GS-13 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $131,743 | $171,268 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $124,189 | $161,448 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $122,857 | $159,716 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $121,534 | $157,996 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $120,579 | $156,755 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $120,381 | $156,498 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $119,355 | $155,164 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $119,157 | $154,906 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $118,905 | $154,579 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $118,446 | $153,982 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $117,807 | $153,151 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $117,501 | $152,753 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $116,816 | $151,863 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $116,240 | $151,114 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $116,123 | $150,962 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $114,890 | $149,359 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $114,566 | $148,937 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $113,549 | $147,615 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $112,234 | $145,906 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $111,442 | $144,876 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $110,236 | $143,308 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $110,209 | $143,273 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $110,200 | $143,261 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $110,083 | $143,109 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $110,047 | $143,062 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $110,038 | $143,051 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $110,020 | $143,027 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $109,966 | $142,957 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $109,767 | $142,700 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $109,749 | $142,676 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $109,461 | $142,302 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $109,308 | $142,103 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $108,957 | $141,646 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $108,723 | $141,342 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $108,345 | $140,850 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $108,165 | $140,616 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $108,057 | $140,476 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $107,733 | $140,055 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $107,643 | $139,938 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $107,535 | $139,797 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $107,517 | $139,774 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $107,382 | $139,598 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $107,103 | $139,235 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $107,067 | $139,189 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $106,950 | $139,036 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $106,932 | $139,013 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $106,527 | $138,486 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $106,446 | $138,381 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $106,437 | $138,369 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $106,365 | $138,276 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $106,239 | $138,112 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $106,166 | $138,018 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $106,121 | $137,960 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $105,932 | $137,714 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $105,914 | $137,691 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $105,896 | $137,667 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $105,797 | $137,538 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $105,383 | $137,000 |
Top and bottom GS-13 localities in 2025
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-13 pay scale
GS-13 is part of the 2025 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2025
GS-13 questions for 2025
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What is the starting salary for GS-13 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GS-13 in 2025 is $90,025 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2025 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 46.34%), GS-13 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-13 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-13 to GS-14?
Promotion from GS-13 to GS-14 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-13 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-14 vacancy. Open the GS-14 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-13?
GS-13 is roughly equivalent to O-5 Lieutenant Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.