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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$131,743 GS-13 Step 1 in San Francisco (2025)
$171,268 GS-13 Step 10 in San Francisco (2025)
+$41,718 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-13 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 46.34% 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 $131,743 $5,067.04 $63.13 +$41,718
Step 2 $136,134 $5,235.92 $65.23 +$43,108
Step 3 $140,526 $5,404.85 $67.33 +$44,499
Step 4 $144,918 $5,573.77 $69.44 +$45,890
Step 5 $149,309 $5,742.65 $71.54 +$47,280
Step 6 $153,701 $5,911.58 $73.65 +$48,671
Step 7 $158,093 $6,080.50 $75.75 +$50,062
Step 8 $162,484 $6,249.38 $77.86 +$51,452
Step 9 $166,876 $6,418.31 $79.96 +$52,843
Step 10 $171,268 $6,587.23 $82.06 +$54,234
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $90,025
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 1 $131,743
  • Locality add-on +$41,718
  • Adjustment percent 46.34%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $117,034
  • San Francisco GS-13 Step 10 $171,268

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-13 in San Francisco: 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 San Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $5,067 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,587. 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 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-13 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in San Francisco?
    In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $131,743 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $171,268. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2025, it is 46.34%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $41,718 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $5,067 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.