2025 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $120,579 in Washington DC.
2025 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $120,579 | $4,637.65 | $57.78 | +$30,554 |
| Step 2 | $124,599 | $4,792.27 | $59.70 | +$31,573 |
| Step 3 | $128,619 | $4,946.88 | $61.63 | +$32,592 |
| Step 4 | $132,638 | $5,101.46 | $63.55 | +$33,610 |
| Step 5 | $136,658 | $5,256.08 | $65.48 | +$34,629 |
| Step 6 | $140,677 | $5,410.65 | $67.41 | +$35,647 |
| Step 7 | $144,697 | $5,565.27 | $69.33 | +$36,666 |
| Step 8 | $148,716 | $5,719.85 | $71.26 | +$37,684 |
| Step 9 | $152,736 | $5,874.46 | $73.18 | +$38,703 |
| Step 10 | $156,755 | $6,029.04 | $75.11 | +$39,721 |
2025 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $120,579 | $4,637.65 | $57.78 | +$30,554 |
| Step 2 | $124,599 | $4,792.27 | $59.70 | +$31,573 |
| Step 3 | $128,619 | $4,946.88 | $61.63 | +$32,592 |
| Step 4 | $132,638 | $5,101.46 | $63.55 | +$33,610 |
| Step 5 | $136,658 | $5,256.08 | $65.48 | +$34,629 |
| Step 6 | $140,677 | $5,410.65 | $67.41 | +$35,647 |
| Step 7 | $144,697 | $5,565.27 | $69.33 | +$36,666 |
| Step 8 | $148,716 | $5,719.85 | $71.26 | +$37,684 |
| Step 9 | $152,736 | $5,874.46 | $73.18 | +$38,703 |
| Step 10 | $156,755 | $6,029.04 | $75.11 | +$39,721 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,638 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,029. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $120,579 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $156,755. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2025, it is 33.94%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $30,554 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,638 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.