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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$150,197 GS-15 Step 1 in St. Louis (2025)
$195,200 GS-15 Step 10 in St. Louis (2025)
+$25,064 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-15 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 20.03% 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 $150,197 $5,776.81 $71.97 +$25,064
Step 2 $155,204 $5,969.38 $74.37 +$25,900
Step 3 $160,210 $6,161.92 $76.77 +$26,735
Step 4 $165,216 $6,354.46 $79.16 +$27,570
Step 5 $170,223 $6,547.04 $81.56 +$28,406
Step 6 $175,229 $6,739.58 $83.96 +$29,241
Step 7 $180,236 $6,932.15 $86.36 +$30,077
Step 8 $185,242 $7,124.69 $88.76 +$30,912
Step 9 $190,249 $7,317.27 $91.16 +$31,748
Step 10 $195,200 $7,507.69 $93.53 +$32,528
← GS-14 Calculate my take-home

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-15 Step 1 $125,133
  • St. Louis GS-15 Step 1 $150,197
  • Locality add-on +$25,064
  • Adjustment percent 20.03%
  • Base GS-15 Step 10 $162,672
  • St. Louis GS-15 Step 10 $195,200

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-15 in St. Louis: 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 St. Louis pay area adds a 20.03% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,777 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 St. Louis page.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-15 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-15 make in St. Louis?
    In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $150,197 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $195,200. This is 20.03% higher than the base GS-15 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2025, it is 20.03%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $25,064 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,777 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.