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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,962 GS-3 Step 1 in Colorado Springs (2025)
$42,845 GS-3 Step 10 in Colorado Springs (2025)
+$5,528 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-3 pay table for Colorado Springs

Each step below already includes the 20.15% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $32,962 $1,267.77 $15.79 +$5,528
Step 2 $34,060 $1,310.00 $16.32 +$5,712
Step 3 $35,158 $1,352.23 $16.85 +$5,896
Step 4 $36,256 $1,394.46 $17.37 +$6,080
Step 5 $37,355 $1,436.73 $17.90 +$6,265
Step 6 $38,453 $1,478.96 $18.43 +$6,449
Step 7 $39,551 $1,521.19 $18.95 +$6,633
Step 8 $40,649 $1,563.42 $19.48 +$6,817
Step 9 $41,747 $1,605.65 $20.00 +$7,001
Step 10 $42,845 $1,647.88 $20.53 +$7,185
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Colorado Springs pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $27,434
  • Colorado Springs GS-3 Step 1 $32,962
  • Locality add-on +$5,528
  • Adjustment percent 20.15%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $35,660
  • Colorado Springs GS-3 Step 10 $42,845

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-3 in Colorado Springs: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2025, the Colorado Springs pay area adds a 20.15% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Colorado Springs

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns roughly $1,268 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,648. 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-3 Colorado Springs page.

Other grades in Colorado Springs

GS-3 in Colorado Springs questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Colorado Springs?
    In 2025, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns $32,962 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,845. This is 20.15% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Colorado Springs?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Colorado Springs in 2025, it is 20.15%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,528 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Colorado Springs?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns roughly $1,268 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.