2025 GS-15 Pay in Cleveland
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA earn 22.23% 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 $152,950 in Cleveland.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Cleveland
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $152,950 | $5,882.69 | $73.29 | +$27,817 |
| Step 2 | $158,048 | $6,078.77 | $75.73 | +$28,744 |
| Step 3 | $163,146 | $6,274.85 | $78.17 | +$29,671 |
| Step 4 | $168,245 | $6,470.96 | $80.62 | +$30,599 |
| Step 5 | $173,343 | $6,667.04 | $83.06 | +$31,526 |
| Step 6 | $178,441 | $6,863.12 | $85.50 | +$32,453 |
| Step 7 | $183,539 | $7,059.19 | $87.94 | +$33,380 |
| Step 8 | $188,638 | $7,255.31 | $90.39 | +$34,308 |
| Step 9 | $193,736 | $7,451.38 | $92.83 | +$35,235 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Cleveland
Each step below already includes the 22.23% 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 | $152,950 | $5,882.69 | $73.29 | +$27,817 |
| Step 2 | $158,048 | $6,078.77 | $75.73 | +$28,744 |
| Step 3 | $163,146 | $6,274.85 | $78.17 | +$29,671 |
| Step 4 | $168,245 | $6,470.96 | $80.62 | +$30,599 |
| Step 5 | $173,343 | $6,667.04 | $83.06 | +$31,526 |
| Step 6 | $178,441 | $6,863.12 | $85.50 | +$32,453 |
| Step 7 | $183,539 | $7,059.19 | $87.94 | +$33,380 |
| Step 8 | $188,638 | $7,255.31 | $90.39 | +$34,308 |
| Step 9 | $193,736 | $7,451.38 | $92.83 | +$35,235 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Cleveland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Cleveland: 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 Cleveland pay area adds a 22.23% 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 Cleveland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $5,883 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 Cleveland page.
Other grades in Cleveland
GS-15 in Cleveland questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Cleveland?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns $152,950 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 22.23% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Cleveland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cleveland in 2025, it is 22.23%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,817 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Cleveland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $5,883 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.