2025 GS-6 Pay in San Diego
GS-6 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% on top of the base GS-6 pay scale. That means a GS-6 Step 1 salary jumps from $38,407 on the base table to $51,358 in San Diego.
2025 GS-6 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,358 | $1,975.31 | $24.61 | +$12,951 |
| Step 2 | $53,069 | $2,041.12 | $25.43 | +$13,382 |
| Step 3 | $54,781 | $2,106.96 | $26.25 | +$13,814 |
| Step 4 | $56,493 | $2,172.81 | $27.07 | +$14,246 |
| Step 5 | $58,204 | $2,238.62 | $27.89 | +$14,677 |
| Step 6 | $59,916 | $2,304.46 | $28.71 | +$15,109 |
| Step 7 | $61,628 | $2,370.31 | $29.53 | +$15,541 |
| Step 8 | $63,339 | $2,436.12 | $30.35 | +$15,972 |
| Step 9 | $65,051 | $2,501.96 | $31.17 | +$16,404 |
| Step 10 | $66,762 | $2,567.77 | $31.99 | +$16,835 |
2025 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,358 | $1,975.31 | $24.61 | +$12,951 |
| Step 2 | $53,069 | $2,041.12 | $25.43 | +$13,382 |
| Step 3 | $54,781 | $2,106.96 | $26.25 | +$13,814 |
| Step 4 | $56,493 | $2,172.81 | $27.07 | +$14,246 |
| Step 5 | $58,204 | $2,238.62 | $27.89 | +$14,677 |
| Step 6 | $59,916 | $2,304.46 | $28.71 | +$15,109 |
| Step 7 | $61,628 | $2,370.31 | $29.53 | +$15,541 |
| Step 8 | $63,339 | $2,436.12 | $30.35 | +$15,972 |
| Step 9 | $65,051 | $2,501.96 | $31.17 | +$16,404 |
| Step 10 | $66,762 | $2,567.77 | $31.99 | +$16,835 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in San Diego: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2025, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-6 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-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-6 is O-1 Second Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-6 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,975 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,568. 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-6 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-6 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-6 make in San Diego?
In 2025, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $51,358 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,762. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,951 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,975 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.