2025 GS-13 Pay in Denver
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,025 on the base table to $117,501 in Denver.
2025 GS-13 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,501 | $4,519.27 | $56.30 | +$27,476 |
| Step 2 | $121,418 | $4,669.92 | $58.18 | +$28,392 |
| Step 3 | $125,334 | $4,820.54 | $60.05 | +$29,307 |
| Step 4 | $129,251 | $4,971.19 | $61.93 | +$30,223 |
| Step 5 | $133,168 | $5,121.85 | $63.81 | +$31,139 |
| Step 6 | $137,085 | $5,272.50 | $65.69 | +$32,055 |
| Step 7 | $141,002 | $5,423.15 | $67.56 | +$32,971 |
| Step 8 | $144,919 | $5,573.81 | $69.44 | +$33,887 |
| Step 9 | $148,836 | $5,724.46 | $71.32 | +$34,803 |
| Step 10 | $152,753 | $5,875.12 | $73.19 | +$35,719 |
2025 GS-13 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,501 | $4,519.27 | $56.30 | +$27,476 |
| Step 2 | $121,418 | $4,669.92 | $58.18 | +$28,392 |
| Step 3 | $125,334 | $4,820.54 | $60.05 | +$29,307 |
| Step 4 | $129,251 | $4,971.19 | $61.93 | +$30,223 |
| Step 5 | $133,168 | $5,121.85 | $63.81 | +$31,139 |
| Step 6 | $137,085 | $5,272.50 | $65.69 | +$32,055 |
| Step 7 | $141,002 | $5,423.15 | $67.56 | +$32,971 |
| Step 8 | $144,919 | $5,573.81 | $69.44 | +$33,887 |
| Step 9 | $148,836 | $5,724.46 | $71.32 | +$34,803 |
| Step 10 | $152,753 | $5,875.12 | $73.19 | +$35,719 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Denver: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2025, the Denver pay area adds a 30.52% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $4,519 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,875. 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-13 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-13 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Denver?
In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $117,501 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $152,753. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2025, it is 30.52%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,476 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $4,519 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.