2025 GS-15 Pay in San Diego
GS-15 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% 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 $167,328 in San Diego.
2025 GS-15 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $167,328 | $6,435.69 | $80.18 | +$42,195 |
| Step 2 | $172,905 | $6,650.19 | $82.85 | +$43,601 |
| Step 3 | $178,483 | $6,864.73 | $85.52 | +$45,008 |
| Step 4 | $184,060 | $7,079.23 | $88.19 | +$46,414 |
| Step 5 | $189,638 | $7,293.77 | $90.87 | +$47,821 |
| Step 6 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$49,212 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| 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 San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.72% 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 | $167,328 | $6,435.69 | $80.18 | +$42,195 |
| Step 2 | $172,905 | $6,650.19 | $82.85 | +$43,601 |
| Step 3 | $178,483 | $6,864.73 | $85.52 | +$45,008 |
| Step 4 | $184,060 | $7,079.23 | $88.19 | +$46,414 |
| Step 5 | $189,638 | $7,293.77 | $90.87 | +$47,821 |
| Step 6 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$49,212 |
| Step 7 | $195,200 | $7,507.69 | $93.53 | +$45,041 |
| 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 San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in San Diego: 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 San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $6,436 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 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-15 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in San Diego?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $167,328 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2025, it is 33.72%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $42,195 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $6,436 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.