2025 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2025 is $125,133 at Step 1, rising to $162,672 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-15 for 2025.
2025 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2025.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $125,133 | $4,812.81 | $59.96 | - |
| Step 2 | $129,304 | $4,973.23 | $61.96 | - |
| Step 3 | $133,475 | $5,133.65 | $63.96 | - |
| Step 4 | $137,646 | $5,294.08 | $65.95 | - |
| Step 5 | $141,817 | $5,454.50 | $67.95 | - |
| Step 6 | $145,988 | $5,614.92 | $69.95 | - |
| Step 7 | $150,159 | $5,775.35 | $71.95 | - |
| Step 8 | $154,330 | $5,935.77 | $73.95 | - |
| Step 9 | $158,501 | $6,096.19 | $75.95 | - |
| Step 10 | $162,672 | $6,256.62 | $77.95 | - |
2025 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 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 | $125,133 | $4,812.81 | $59.96 | - |
| Step 2 | $129,304 | $4,973.23 | $61.96 | - |
| Step 3 | $133,475 | $5,133.65 | $63.96 | - |
| Step 4 | $137,646 | $5,294.08 | $65.95 | - |
| Step 5 | $141,817 | $5,454.50 | $67.95 | - |
| Step 6 | $145,988 | $5,614.92 | $69.95 | - |
| Step 7 | $150,159 | $5,775.35 | $71.95 | - |
| Step 8 | $154,330 | $5,935.77 | $73.95 | - |
| Step 9 | $158,501 | $6,096.19 | $75.95 | - |
| Step 10 | $162,672 | $6,256.62 | $77.95 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2025, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $183,120 | $195,200 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $172,621 | $195,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $170,769 | $195,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $168,930 | $195,200 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $167,603 | $195,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $167,328 | $195,200 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $165,901 | $195,200 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $165,626 | $195,200 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $165,276 | $195,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $164,637 | $195,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $163,749 | $195,200 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $163,324 | $195,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $162,373 | $195,200 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $161,572 | $195,200 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $161,409 | $195,200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $159,695 | $195,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $159,244 | $195,200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $157,830 | $195,200 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $156,003 | $195,200 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $154,902 | $195,200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $153,225 | $195,200 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $153,188 | $195,200 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $153,175 | $195,200 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $153,013 | $195,200 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $152,963 | $195,200 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $152,950 | $195,200 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $152,925 | $195,200 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $152,850 | $195,200 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $152,575 | $195,200 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $152,550 | $195,200 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $152,149 | $195,200 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $151,936 | $195,200 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $151,448 | $195,200 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $151,123 | $195,200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $150,598 | $195,200 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $150,347 | $195,200 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $150,197 | $195,200 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $149,747 | $194,670 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $149,622 | $194,507 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $149,471 | $194,312 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $149,446 | $194,279 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $149,259 | $194,035 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $148,871 | $193,531 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $148,821 | $193,466 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $148,658 | $193,254 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $148,633 | $193,222 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $148,070 | $192,490 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $147,957 | $192,343 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $147,945 | $192,327 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $147,845 | $192,197 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $147,669 | $191,969 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $147,569 | $191,839 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $147,507 | $191,758 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $147,244 | $191,416 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $147,219 | $191,384 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $147,194 | $191,351 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $147,056 | $191,172 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $146,481 | $190,424 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2025
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2025 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
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-15 questions for 2025
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2025 is $125,133 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2025 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 46.34%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 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-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.