2025 GS-15 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 36.47% 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 $170,769 in Los Angeles.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $170,769 | $6,568.04 | $81.83 | +$45,636 |
| Step 2 | $176,461 | $6,786.96 | $84.55 | +$47,157 |
| Step 3 | $182,153 | $7,005.88 | $87.28 | +$48,678 |
| Step 4 | $187,845 | $7,224.81 | $90.01 | +$50,199 |
| Step 5 | $193,538 | $7,443.77 | $92.74 | +$51,721 |
| Step 6 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$49,212 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| Step 8 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$40,870 |
| Step 9 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$36,699 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 36.47% 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 | $170,769 | $6,568.04 | $81.83 | +$45,636 |
| Step 2 | $176,461 | $6,786.96 | $84.55 | +$47,157 |
| Step 3 | $182,153 | $7,005.88 | $87.28 | +$48,678 |
| Step 4 | $187,845 | $7,224.81 | $90.01 | +$50,199 |
| Step 5 | $193,538 | $7,443.77 | $92.74 | +$51,721 |
| Step 6 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$49,212 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| Step 8 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$40,870 |
| Step 9 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$36,699 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 36.47% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $6,568 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 Los Angeles page.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-15 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Los Angeles?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $170,769 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 36.47% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2025, it is 36.47%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $45,636 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $6,568 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.