2025 GS-15 Pay in Raleigh
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC earn 22.24% 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 $152,963 in Raleigh.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Raleigh
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $152,963 | $5,883.19 | $73.29 | +$27,830 |
| Step 2 | $158,061 | $6,079.27 | $75.74 | +$28,757 |
| Step 3 | $163,160 | $6,275.38 | $78.18 | +$29,685 |
| Step 4 | $168,258 | $6,471.46 | $80.62 | +$30,612 |
| Step 5 | $173,357 | $6,667.58 | $83.07 | +$31,540 |
| Step 6 | $178,456 | $6,863.69 | $85.51 | +$32,468 |
| Step 7 | $183,554 | $7,059.77 | $87.95 | +$33,395 |
| Step 8 | $188,653 | $7,255.88 | $90.39 | +$34,323 |
| Step 9 | $193,752 | $7,452.00 | $92.84 | +$35,251 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Raleigh
Each step below already includes the 22.24% 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 | $152,963 | $5,883.19 | $73.29 | +$27,830 |
| Step 2 | $158,061 | $6,079.27 | $75.74 | +$28,757 |
| Step 3 | $163,160 | $6,275.38 | $78.18 | +$29,685 |
| Step 4 | $168,258 | $6,471.46 | $80.62 | +$30,612 |
| Step 5 | $173,357 | $6,667.58 | $83.07 | +$31,540 |
| Step 6 | $178,456 | $6,863.69 | $85.51 | +$32,468 |
| Step 7 | $183,554 | $7,059.77 | $87.95 | +$33,395 |
| Step 8 | $188,653 | $7,255.88 | $90.39 | +$34,323 |
| Step 9 | $193,752 | $7,452.00 | $92.84 | +$35,251 |
| Step 10 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$32,528 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Raleigh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Raleigh: 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 Raleigh pay area adds a 22.24% 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 Raleigh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $5,883 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 Raleigh page.
Other grades in Raleigh
GS-15 in Raleigh questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Raleigh?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $152,963 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 22.24% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Raleigh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2025, it is 22.24%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,830 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Raleigh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $5,883 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.