2025 GS-13 Pay in Seattle
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 31.57% 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 $118,446 in Seattle.
2025 GS-13 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $118,446 | $4,555.62 | $56.75 | +$28,421 |
| Step 2 | $122,394 | $4,707.46 | $58.65 | +$29,368 |
| Step 3 | $126,343 | $4,859.35 | $60.54 | +$30,316 |
| Step 4 | $130,291 | $5,011.19 | $62.43 | +$31,263 |
| Step 5 | $134,240 | $5,163.08 | $64.32 | +$32,211 |
| Step 6 | $138,188 | $5,314.92 | $66.21 | +$33,158 |
| Step 7 | $142,136 | $5,466.77 | $68.11 | +$34,105 |
| Step 8 | $146,085 | $5,618.65 | $70.00 | +$35,053 |
| Step 9 | $150,033 | $5,770.50 | $71.89 | +$36,000 |
| Step 10 | $153,982 | $5,922.38 | $73.78 | +$36,948 |
2025 GS-13 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 | $118,446 | $4,555.62 | $56.75 | +$28,421 |
| Step 2 | $122,394 | $4,707.46 | $58.65 | +$29,368 |
| Step 3 | $126,343 | $4,859.35 | $60.54 | +$30,316 |
| Step 4 | $130,291 | $5,011.19 | $62.43 | +$31,263 |
| Step 5 | $134,240 | $5,163.08 | $64.32 | +$32,211 |
| Step 6 | $138,188 | $5,314.92 | $66.21 | +$33,158 |
| Step 7 | $142,136 | $5,466.77 | $68.11 | +$34,105 |
| Step 8 | $146,085 | $5,618.65 | $70.00 | +$35,053 |
| Step 9 | $150,033 | $5,770.50 | $71.89 | +$36,000 |
| Step 10 | $153,982 | $5,922.38 | $73.78 | +$36,948 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Seattle: 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 Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $4,556 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,922. 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 Seattle page.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-13 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Seattle?
In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $118,446 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $153,982. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2025, it is 31.57%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $28,421 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $4,556 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.