2025 GS-15 Pay in Pittsburgh
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV earn 21.03% 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 $151,448 in Pittsburgh.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Pittsburgh
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $151,448 | $5,824.92 | $72.57 | +$26,315 |
| Step 2 | $156,497 | $6,019.12 | $74.99 | +$27,193 |
| Step 3 | $161,545 | $6,213.27 | $77.41 | +$28,070 |
| Step 4 | $166,593 | $6,407.42 | $79.82 | +$28,947 |
| Step 5 | $171,641 | $6,601.58 | $82.24 | +$29,824 |
| Step 6 | $176,689 | $6,795.73 | $84.66 | +$30,701 |
| Step 7 | $181,737 | $6,989.88 | $87.08 | +$31,578 |
| Step 8 | $186,786 | $7,184.08 | $89.50 | +$32,456 |
| Step 9 | $191,834 | $7,378.23 | $91.92 | +$33,333 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Pittsburgh
Each step below already includes the 21.03% 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 | $151,448 | $5,824.92 | $72.57 | +$26,315 |
| Step 2 | $156,497 | $6,019.12 | $74.99 | +$27,193 |
| Step 3 | $161,545 | $6,213.27 | $77.41 | +$28,070 |
| Step 4 | $166,593 | $6,407.42 | $79.82 | +$28,947 |
| Step 5 | $171,641 | $6,601.58 | $82.24 | +$29,824 |
| Step 6 | $176,689 | $6,795.73 | $84.66 | +$30,701 |
| Step 7 | $181,737 | $6,989.88 | $87.08 | +$31,578 |
| Step 8 | $186,786 | $7,184.08 | $89.50 | +$32,456 |
| Step 9 | $191,834 | $7,378.23 | $91.92 | +$33,333 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Pittsburgh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Pittsburgh: 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 Pittsburgh pay area adds a 21.03% 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 Pittsburgh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $5,825 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 Pittsburgh page.
Other grades in Pittsburgh
GS-15 in Pittsburgh questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Pittsburgh?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns $151,448 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 21.03% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Pittsburgh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Pittsburgh in 2025, it is 21.03%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,315 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Pittsburgh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $5,825 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.