2025 GS-15 Pay in Charlotte
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC earn 19.67% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $125,133 on the base table to $149,747 in Charlotte.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Charlotte
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $149,747 | $5,759.50 | $71.75 | +$24,614 |
| Step 2 | $154,738 | $5,951.46 | $74.14 | +$25,434 |
| Step 3 | $159,730 | $6,143.46 | $76.54 | +$26,255 |
| Step 4 | $164,721 | $6,335.42 | $78.93 | +$27,075 |
| Step 5 | $169,712 | $6,527.38 | $81.32 | +$27,895 |
| Step 6 | $174,704 | $6,719.38 | $83.71 | +$28,716 |
| Step 7 | $179,695 | $6,911.35 | $86.10 | +$29,536 |
| Step 8 | $184,687 | $7,103.35 | $88.49 | +$30,357 |
| Step 9 | $189,678 | $7,295.31 | $90.89 | +$31,177 |
| Step 10 | $194,670 | $7,487.31 | $93.28 | +$31,998 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Charlotte
Each step below already includes the 19.67% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $149,747 | $5,759.50 | $71.75 | +$24,614 |
| Step 2 | $154,738 | $5,951.46 | $74.14 | +$25,434 |
| Step 3 | $159,730 | $6,143.46 | $76.54 | +$26,255 |
| Step 4 | $164,721 | $6,335.42 | $78.93 | +$27,075 |
| Step 5 | $169,712 | $6,527.38 | $81.32 | +$27,895 |
| Step 6 | $174,704 | $6,719.38 | $83.71 | +$28,716 |
| Step 7 | $179,695 | $6,911.35 | $86.10 | +$29,536 |
| Step 8 | $184,687 | $7,103.35 | $88.49 | +$30,357 |
| Step 9 | $189,678 | $7,295.31 | $90.89 | +$31,177 |
| Step 10 | $194,670 | $7,487.31 | $93.28 | +$31,998 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Charlotte pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Charlotte: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2025, the Charlotte pay area adds a 19.67% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in Charlotte
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $5,760 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,487. 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-15 Charlotte page.
Other grades in Charlotte
GS-15 in Charlotte questions
-
How much does a GS-15 make in Charlotte?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $149,747 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $194,670. This is 19.67% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Charlotte?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2025, it is 19.67%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,614 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Charlotte?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $5,760 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.