2026 GS-12 Pay in Albany
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA earn 20.77% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $76,463 on the base table to $92,344 in Albany.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Albany
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $92,344 | $3,551.69 | $44.25 | +$15,881 |
| Step 2 | $95,423 | $3,670.12 | $45.72 | +$16,411 |
| Step 3 | $98,501 | $3,788.50 | $47.20 | +$16,940 |
| Step 4 | $101,580 | $3,906.92 | $48.67 | +$17,470 |
| Step 5 | $104,658 | $4,025.31 | $50.15 | +$17,999 |
| Step 6 | $107,737 | $4,143.73 | $51.62 | +$18,529 |
| Step 7 | $110,815 | $4,262.12 | $53.10 | +$19,058 |
| Step 8 | $113,893 | $4,380.50 | $54.57 | +$19,587 |
| Step 9 | $116,972 | $4,498.92 | $56.05 | +$20,117 |
| Step 10 | $120,050 | $4,617.31 | $57.52 | +$20,646 |
2026 GS-12 pay table for Albany
Each step below already includes the 20.77% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $92,344 | $3,551.69 | $44.25 | +$15,881 |
| Step 2 | $95,423 | $3,670.12 | $45.72 | +$16,411 |
| Step 3 | $98,501 | $3,788.50 | $47.20 | +$16,940 |
| Step 4 | $101,580 | $3,906.92 | $48.67 | +$17,470 |
| Step 5 | $104,658 | $4,025.31 | $50.15 | +$17,999 |
| Step 6 | $107,737 | $4,143.73 | $51.62 | +$18,529 |
| Step 7 | $110,815 | $4,262.12 | $53.10 | +$19,058 |
| Step 8 | $113,893 | $4,380.50 | $54.57 | +$19,587 |
| Step 9 | $116,972 | $4,498.92 | $56.05 | +$20,117 |
| Step 10 | $120,050 | $4,617.31 | $57.52 | +$20,646 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Albany pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Albany: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2026, the Albany pay area adds a 20.77% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Albany
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Albany earns roughly $3,552 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,617. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Albany
GS-12 in Albany questions
-
How much does a GS-12 make in Albany?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Albany earns $92,344 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $120,050. This is 20.77% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Albany?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Albany in 2026, it is 20.77%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,881 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Albany?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Albany earns roughly $3,552 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.