2025 GS-15 Pay in Milwaukee
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI earn 22.42% 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 $153,188 in Milwaukee.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Milwaukee
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $153,188 | $5,891.85 | $73.40 | +$28,055 |
| Step 2 | $158,294 | $6,088.23 | $75.85 | +$28,990 |
| Step 3 | $163,400 | $6,284.62 | $78.29 | +$29,925 |
| Step 4 | $168,506 | $6,481.00 | $80.74 | +$30,860 |
| Step 5 | $173,612 | $6,677.38 | $83.19 | +$31,795 |
| Step 6 | $178,719 | $6,873.81 | $85.63 | +$32,731 |
| Step 7 | $183,825 | $7,070.19 | $88.08 | +$33,666 |
| Step 8 | $188,931 | $7,266.58 | $90.53 | +$34,601 |
| Step 9 | $194,037 | $7,462.96 | $92.97 | +$35,536 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Milwaukee
Each step below already includes the 22.42% 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 | $153,188 | $5,891.85 | $73.40 | +$28,055 |
| Step 2 | $158,294 | $6,088.23 | $75.85 | +$28,990 |
| Step 3 | $163,400 | $6,284.62 | $78.29 | +$29,925 |
| Step 4 | $168,506 | $6,481.00 | $80.74 | +$30,860 |
| Step 5 | $173,612 | $6,677.38 | $83.19 | +$31,795 |
| Step 6 | $178,719 | $6,873.81 | $85.63 | +$32,731 |
| Step 7 | $183,825 | $7,070.19 | $88.08 | +$33,666 |
| Step 8 | $188,931 | $7,266.58 | $90.53 | +$34,601 |
| Step 9 | $194,037 | $7,462.96 | $92.97 | +$35,536 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Milwaukee pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Milwaukee: 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 Milwaukee pay area adds a 22.42% 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 Milwaukee
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $5,892 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 Milwaukee page.
Other grades in Milwaukee
GS-15 in Milwaukee questions
-
How much does a GS-15 make in Milwaukee?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns $153,188 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 22.42% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Milwaukee?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Milwaukee in 2025, it is 22.42%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $28,055 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Milwaukee?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $5,892 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.