2026 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 36.47% 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 $104,349 in Los Angeles.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $104,349 | $4,013.42 | $50.00 | +$27,886 |
| Step 2 | $107,828 | $4,147.23 | $51.67 | +$28,816 |
| Step 3 | $111,306 | $4,281.00 | $53.33 | +$29,745 |
| Step 4 | $114,785 | $4,414.81 | $55.00 | +$30,675 |
| Step 5 | $118,264 | $4,548.62 | $56.67 | +$31,605 |
| Step 6 | $121,742 | $4,682.38 | $58.33 | +$32,534 |
| Step 7 | $125,221 | $4,816.19 | $60.00 | +$33,464 |
| Step 8 | $128,699 | $4,949.96 | $61.67 | +$34,393 |
| Step 9 | $132,178 | $5,083.77 | $63.33 | +$35,323 |
| Step 10 | $135,657 | $5,217.58 | $65.00 | +$36,253 |
2026 GS-12 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 36.47% 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 | $104,349 | $4,013.42 | $50.00 | +$27,886 |
| Step 2 | $107,828 | $4,147.23 | $51.67 | +$28,816 |
| Step 3 | $111,306 | $4,281.00 | $53.33 | +$29,745 |
| Step 4 | $114,785 | $4,414.81 | $55.00 | +$30,675 |
| Step 5 | $118,264 | $4,548.62 | $56.67 | +$31,605 |
| Step 6 | $121,742 | $4,682.38 | $58.33 | +$32,534 |
| Step 7 | $125,221 | $4,816.19 | $60.00 | +$33,464 |
| Step 8 | $128,699 | $4,949.96 | $61.67 | +$34,393 |
| Step 9 | $132,178 | $5,083.77 | $63.33 | +$35,323 |
| Step 10 | $135,657 | $5,217.58 | $65.00 | +$36,253 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 36.47% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $4,013 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,218. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-12 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Los Angeles?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $104,349 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $135,657. This is 36.47% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2026, it is 36.47%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,886 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $4,013 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.