2025 GS-15 Pay in Portland
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA earn 26.13% 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 $157,830 in Portland.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Portland
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $157,830 | $6,070.38 | $75.63 | +$32,697 |
| Step 2 | $163,091 | $6,272.73 | $78.15 | +$33,787 |
| Step 3 | $168,352 | $6,475.08 | $80.67 | +$34,877 |
| Step 4 | $173,613 | $6,677.42 | $83.19 | +$35,967 |
| Step 5 | $178,874 | $6,879.77 | $85.71 | +$37,057 |
| Step 6 | $184,135 | $7,082.12 | $88.23 | +$38,147 |
| Step 7 | $189,396 | $7,284.46 | $90.75 | +$39,237 |
| Step 8 | $194,656 | $7,486.77 | $93.27 | +$40,326 |
| 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 Portland
Each step below already includes the 26.13% 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 | $157,830 | $6,070.38 | $75.63 | +$32,697 |
| Step 2 | $163,091 | $6,272.73 | $78.15 | +$33,787 |
| Step 3 | $168,352 | $6,475.08 | $80.67 | +$34,877 |
| Step 4 | $173,613 | $6,677.42 | $83.19 | +$35,967 |
| Step 5 | $178,874 | $6,879.77 | $85.71 | +$37,057 |
| Step 6 | $184,135 | $7,082.12 | $88.23 | +$38,147 |
| Step 7 | $189,396 | $7,284.46 | $90.75 | +$39,237 |
| Step 8 | $194,656 | $7,486.77 | $93.27 | +$40,326 |
| 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 Portland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Portland: 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 Portland pay area adds a 26.13% 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 Portland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $6,070 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 Portland page.
Other grades in Portland
GS-15 in Portland questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Portland?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Portland earns $157,830 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 26.13% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Portland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Portland in 2025, it is 26.13%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $32,697 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Portland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $6,070 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.