2025 GS-15 Pay in Tucson
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Tucson-Nogales, AZ earn 19.28% 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 $149,259 in Tucson.
2025 GS-15 Pay in Tucson
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Tucson-Nogales, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $149,259 | $5,740.73 | $71.52 | +$24,126 |
| Step 2 | $154,234 | $5,932.08 | $73.90 | +$24,930 |
| Step 3 | $159,209 | $6,123.42 | $76.29 | +$25,734 |
| Step 4 | $164,184 | $6,314.77 | $78.67 | +$26,538 |
| Step 5 | $169,159 | $6,506.12 | $81.05 | +$27,342 |
| Step 6 | $174,134 | $6,697.46 | $83.44 | +$28,146 |
| Step 7 | $179,110 | $6,888.85 | $85.82 | +$28,951 |
| Step 8 | $184,085 | $7,080.19 | $88.21 | +$29,755 |
| Step 9 | $189,060 | $7,271.54 | $90.59 | +$30,559 |
| Step 10 | $194,035 | $7,462.88 | $92.97 | +$31,363 |
2025 GS-15 pay table for Tucson
Each step below already includes the 19.28% 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 | $149,259 | $5,740.73 | $71.52 | +$24,126 |
| Step 2 | $154,234 | $5,932.08 | $73.90 | +$24,930 |
| Step 3 | $159,209 | $6,123.42 | $76.29 | +$25,734 |
| Step 4 | $164,184 | $6,314.77 | $78.67 | +$26,538 |
| Step 5 | $169,159 | $6,506.12 | $81.05 | +$27,342 |
| Step 6 | $174,134 | $6,697.46 | $83.44 | +$28,146 |
| Step 7 | $179,110 | $6,888.85 | $85.82 | +$28,951 |
| Step 8 | $184,085 | $7,080.19 | $88.21 | +$29,755 |
| Step 9 | $189,060 | $7,271.54 | $90.59 | +$30,559 |
| Step 10 | $194,035 | $7,462.88 | $92.97 | +$31,363 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Tucson pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in Tucson: 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 Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $5,741 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,463. 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 Tucson page.
Other grades in Tucson
GS-15 in Tucson questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in Tucson?
In 2025, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $149,259 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $194,035. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in Tucson?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Tucson in 2025, it is 19.28%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,126 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in Tucson?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $5,741 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.