2025 GS-15 Pay in Cincinnati
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN earn 21.93% 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 $152,575 in Cincinnati.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Cincinnati
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $152,575 | $5,868.27 | $73.11 | +$27,442 |
| Step 2 | $157,660 | $6,063.85 | $75.54 | +$28,356 |
| Step 3 | $162,746 | $6,259.46 | $77.98 | +$29,271 |
| Step 4 | $167,832 | $6,455.08 | $80.42 | +$30,186 |
| Step 5 | $172,917 | $6,650.65 | $82.85 | +$31,100 |
| Step 6 | $178,003 | $6,846.27 | $85.29 | +$32,015 |
| Step 7 | $183,089 | $7,041.88 | $87.73 | +$32,930 |
| Step 8 | $188,175 | $7,237.50 | $90.17 | +$33,845 |
| Step 9 | $193,260 | $7,433.08 | $92.60 | +$34,759 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Cincinnati
Each step below already includes the 21.93% 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 | $152,575 | $5,868.27 | $73.11 | +$27,442 |
| Step 2 | $157,660 | $6,063.85 | $75.54 | +$28,356 |
| Step 3 | $162,746 | $6,259.46 | $77.98 | +$29,271 |
| Step 4 | $167,832 | $6,455.08 | $80.42 | +$30,186 |
| Step 5 | $172,917 | $6,650.65 | $82.85 | +$31,100 |
| Step 6 | $178,003 | $6,846.27 | $85.29 | +$32,015 |
| Step 7 | $183,089 | $7,041.88 | $87.73 | +$32,930 |
| Step 8 | $188,175 | $7,237.50 | $90.17 | +$33,845 |
| Step 9 | $193,260 | $7,433.08 | $92.60 | +$34,759 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Cincinnati pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Cincinnati: 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 Cincinnati pay area adds a 21.93% 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 Cincinnati
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns roughly $5,868 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,508. 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 Cincinnati page.
Other grades in Cincinnati
GS-15 in Cincinnati questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Cincinnati?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns $152,575 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 21.93% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Cincinnati?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cincinnati in 2025, it is 21.93%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,442 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Cincinnati?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns roughly $5,868 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.