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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,723 GS-3 Step 1 in Tucson (2025)
$42,535 GS-3 Step 10 in Tucson (2025)
+$5,289 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-3 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-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $32,723 $1,258.58 $15.68 +$5,289
Step 2 $33,813 $1,300.50 $16.20 +$5,465
Step 3 $34,904 $1,342.46 $16.72 +$5,642
Step 4 $35,994 $1,384.38 $17.25 +$5,818
Step 5 $37,084 $1,426.31 $17.77 +$5,994
Step 6 $38,174 $1,468.23 $18.29 +$6,170
Step 7 $39,265 $1,510.19 $18.81 +$6,347
Step 8 $40,355 $1,552.12 $19.34 +$6,523
Step 9 $41,445 $1,594.04 $19.86 +$6,699
Step 10 $42,535 $1,635.96 $20.38 +$6,875

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Tucson pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $27,434
  • Tucson GS-3 Step 1 $32,723
  • Locality add-on +$5,289
  • Adjustment percent 19.28%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $35,660
  • Tucson GS-3 Step 10 $42,535

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 Tucson: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,259 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,636. 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 Tucson page.

Other grades in Tucson

GS-3 in Tucson questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Tucson?
    In 2025, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $32,723 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,535. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 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-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,289 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Tucson?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,259 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.