2026 GS-11 Pay in Denver
GS-11 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% on top of the base GS-11 pay scale. That means a GS-11 Step 1 salary jumps from $63,795 on the base table to $83,265 in Denver.
2026 GS-11 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-11 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $83,265 | $3,202.50 | $39.90 | +$19,470 |
| Step 2 | $86,041 | $3,309.27 | $41.23 | +$20,119 |
| Step 3 | $88,818 | $3,416.08 | $42.56 | +$20,769 |
| Step 4 | $91,594 | $3,522.85 | $43.89 | +$21,418 |
| Step 5 | $94,370 | $3,629.62 | $45.22 | +$22,067 |
| Step 6 | $97,146 | $3,736.38 | $46.55 | +$22,716 |
| Step 7 | $99,922 | $3,843.15 | $47.88 | +$23,365 |
| Step 8 | $102,698 | $3,949.92 | $49.21 | +$24,014 |
| Step 9 | $105,475 | $4,056.73 | $50.54 | +$24,664 |
| Step 10 | $108,251 | $4,163.50 | $51.87 | +$25,313 |
2026 GS-11 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $83,265 | $3,202.50 | $39.90 | +$19,470 |
| Step 2 | $86,041 | $3,309.27 | $41.23 | +$20,119 |
| Step 3 | $88,818 | $3,416.08 | $42.56 | +$20,769 |
| Step 4 | $91,594 | $3,522.85 | $43.89 | +$21,418 |
| Step 5 | $94,370 | $3,629.62 | $45.22 | +$22,067 |
| Step 6 | $97,146 | $3,736.38 | $46.55 | +$22,716 |
| Step 7 | $99,922 | $3,843.15 | $47.88 | +$23,365 |
| Step 8 | $102,698 | $3,949.92 | $49.21 | +$24,014 |
| Step 9 | $105,475 | $4,056.73 | $50.54 | +$24,664 |
| Step 10 | $108,251 | $4,163.50 | $51.87 | +$25,313 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-11 in Denver: what to expect
Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.
For 2026, the Denver pay area adds a 30.52% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.
Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.
The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,203 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,164. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Denver
GS-11 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-11 make in Denver?
In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $83,265 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $108,251. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-11 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2026, it is 30.52%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,470 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $3,203 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.