2025 GS-15 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $161,409 in Philadelphia.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $161,409 | $6,208.04 | $77.34 | +$36,276 |
| Step 2 | $166,789 | $6,414.96 | $79.92 | +$37,485 |
| Step 3 | $172,169 | $6,621.88 | $82.50 | +$38,694 |
| Step 4 | $177,550 | $6,828.85 | $85.07 | +$39,904 |
| Step 5 | $182,930 | $7,035.77 | $87.65 | +$41,113 |
| Step 6 | $188,310 | $7,242.69 | $90.23 | +$42,322 |
| Step 7 | $193,690 | $7,449.62 | $92.81 | +$43,531 |
| 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 Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $161,409 | $6,208.04 | $77.34 | +$36,276 |
| Step 2 | $166,789 | $6,414.96 | $79.92 | +$37,485 |
| Step 3 | $172,169 | $6,621.88 | $82.50 | +$38,694 |
| Step 4 | $177,550 | $6,828.85 | $85.07 | +$39,904 |
| Step 5 | $182,930 | $7,035.77 | $87.65 | +$41,113 |
| Step 6 | $188,310 | $7,242.69 | $90.23 | +$42,322 |
| Step 7 | $193,690 | $7,449.62 | $92.81 | +$43,531 |
| 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 Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $6,208 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-15 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Philadelphia?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $161,409 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2025, it is 28.99%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $36,276 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $6,208 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.