2026 GS-11 Pay in Seattle
GS-11 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 31.57% 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 $83,935 in Seattle.
2026 GS-11 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-11 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $83,935 | $3,228.27 | $40.22 | +$20,140 |
| Step 2 | $86,734 | $3,335.92 | $41.56 | +$20,812 |
| Step 3 | $89,532 | $3,443.54 | $42.90 | +$21,483 |
| Step 4 | $92,331 | $3,551.19 | $44.24 | +$22,155 |
| Step 5 | $95,129 | $3,658.81 | $45.58 | +$22,826 |
| Step 6 | $97,928 | $3,766.46 | $46.92 | +$23,498 |
| Step 7 | $100,726 | $3,874.08 | $48.26 | +$24,169 |
| Step 8 | $103,525 | $3,981.73 | $49.60 | +$24,841 |
| Step 9 | $106,323 | $4,089.35 | $50.95 | +$25,512 |
| Step 10 | $109,122 | $4,197.00 | $52.29 | +$26,184 |
2026 GS-11 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 | $83,935 | $3,228.27 | $40.22 | +$20,140 |
| Step 2 | $86,734 | $3,335.92 | $41.56 | +$20,812 |
| Step 3 | $89,532 | $3,443.54 | $42.90 | +$21,483 |
| Step 4 | $92,331 | $3,551.19 | $44.24 | +$22,155 |
| Step 5 | $95,129 | $3,658.81 | $45.58 | +$22,826 |
| Step 6 | $97,928 | $3,766.46 | $46.92 | +$23,498 |
| Step 7 | $100,726 | $3,874.08 | $48.26 | +$24,169 |
| Step 8 | $103,525 | $3,981.73 | $49.60 | +$24,841 |
| Step 9 | $106,323 | $4,089.35 | $50.95 | +$25,512 |
| Step 10 | $109,122 | $4,197.00 | $52.29 | +$26,184 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-11 in Seattle: what to expect
Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.
For 2026, the Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $3,228 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,197. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-11 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-11 make in Seattle?
In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $83,935 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $109,122. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-11 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2026, it is 31.57%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,140 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $3,228 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.