2026 GS-12 Pay in Minneapolis
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI earn 27.62% 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 $97,582 in Minneapolis.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Minneapolis
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $97,582 | $3,753.15 | $46.76 | +$21,119 |
| Step 2 | $100,835 | $3,878.27 | $48.32 | +$21,823 |
| Step 3 | $104,088 | $4,003.38 | $49.87 | +$22,527 |
| Step 4 | $107,341 | $4,128.50 | $51.43 | +$23,231 |
| Step 5 | $110,594 | $4,253.62 | $52.99 | +$23,935 |
| Step 6 | $113,847 | $4,378.73 | $54.55 | +$24,639 |
| Step 7 | $117,100 | $4,503.85 | $56.11 | +$25,343 |
| Step 8 | $120,353 | $4,628.96 | $57.67 | +$26,047 |
| Step 9 | $123,606 | $4,754.08 | $59.23 | +$26,751 |
| Step 10 | $126,859 | $4,879.19 | $60.79 | +$27,455 |
2026 GS-12 pay table for Minneapolis
Each step below already includes the 27.62% 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 | $97,582 | $3,753.15 | $46.76 | +$21,119 |
| Step 2 | $100,835 | $3,878.27 | $48.32 | +$21,823 |
| Step 3 | $104,088 | $4,003.38 | $49.87 | +$22,527 |
| Step 4 | $107,341 | $4,128.50 | $51.43 | +$23,231 |
| Step 5 | $110,594 | $4,253.62 | $52.99 | +$23,935 |
| Step 6 | $113,847 | $4,378.73 | $54.55 | +$24,639 |
| Step 7 | $117,100 | $4,503.85 | $56.11 | +$25,343 |
| Step 8 | $120,353 | $4,628.96 | $57.67 | +$26,047 |
| Step 9 | $123,606 | $4,754.08 | $59.23 | +$26,751 |
| Step 10 | $126,859 | $4,879.19 | $60.79 | +$27,455 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Minneapolis pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Minneapolis: 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 Minneapolis pay area adds a 27.62% 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 Minneapolis
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Minneapolis earns roughly $3,753 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,879. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Minneapolis
GS-12 in Minneapolis questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Minneapolis?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Minneapolis earns $97,582 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $126,859. This is 27.62% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Minneapolis?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Minneapolis in 2026, it is 27.62%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,119 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Minneapolis?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Minneapolis earns roughly $3,753 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.