2025 GS-4 Pay in San Diego
GS-4 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% on top of the base GS-4 pay scale. That means a GS-4 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,795 on the base table to $41,179 in San Diego.
2025 GS-4 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-4 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,179 | $1,583.81 | $19.73 | +$10,384 |
| Step 2 | $42,552 | $1,636.62 | $20.39 | +$10,730 |
| Step 3 | $43,926 | $1,689.46 | $21.05 | +$11,077 |
| Step 4 | $45,299 | $1,742.27 | $21.71 | +$11,423 |
| Step 5 | $46,672 | $1,795.08 | $22.36 | +$11,769 |
| Step 6 | $48,046 | $1,847.92 | $23.02 | +$12,116 |
| Step 7 | $49,419 | $1,900.73 | $23.68 | +$12,462 |
| Step 8 | $50,792 | $1,953.54 | $24.34 | +$12,808 |
| Step 9 | $52,166 | $2,006.38 | $25.00 | +$13,155 |
| Step 10 | $53,539 | $2,059.19 | $25.65 | +$13,501 |
2025 GS-4 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-4 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,179 | $1,583.81 | $19.73 | +$10,384 |
| Step 2 | $42,552 | $1,636.62 | $20.39 | +$10,730 |
| Step 3 | $43,926 | $1,689.46 | $21.05 | +$11,077 |
| Step 4 | $45,299 | $1,742.27 | $21.71 | +$11,423 |
| Step 5 | $46,672 | $1,795.08 | $22.36 | +$11,769 |
| Step 6 | $48,046 | $1,847.92 | $23.02 | +$12,116 |
| Step 7 | $49,419 | $1,900.73 | $23.68 | +$12,462 |
| Step 8 | $50,792 | $1,953.54 | $24.34 | +$12,808 |
| Step 9 | $52,166 | $2,006.38 | $25.00 | +$13,155 |
| Step 10 | $53,539 | $2,059.19 | $25.65 | +$13,501 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-4 in San Diego: what to expect
Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
For 2025, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-4 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. Two years of post-secondary education, an associate's degree, or one year of GS-3 equivalent experience.
Promotion path. Usually promoted to GS-5 after one year in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-4 is E-5 Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-4 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,584 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,059. 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-4 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-4 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-4 make in San Diego?
In 2025, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $41,179 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,539. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-4 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-4 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-4 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,384 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-4 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,584 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.