2026 GS-12 Pay in Raleigh
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC earn 22.24% 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 $93,468 in Raleigh.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Raleigh
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $93,468 | $3,594.92 | $44.79 | +$17,005 |
| Step 2 | $96,584 | $3,714.77 | $46.28 | +$17,572 |
| Step 3 | $99,700 | $3,834.62 | $47.77 | +$18,139 |
| Step 4 | $102,816 | $3,954.46 | $49.26 | +$18,706 |
| Step 5 | $105,932 | $4,074.31 | $50.76 | +$19,273 |
| Step 6 | $109,048 | $4,194.15 | $52.25 | +$19,840 |
| Step 7 | $112,164 | $4,314.00 | $53.74 | +$20,407 |
| Step 8 | $115,280 | $4,433.85 | $55.24 | +$20,974 |
| Step 9 | $118,396 | $4,553.69 | $56.73 | +$21,541 |
| Step 10 | $121,511 | $4,673.50 | $58.22 | +$22,107 |
2026 GS-12 pay table for Raleigh
Each step below already includes the 22.24% 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 | $93,468 | $3,594.92 | $44.79 | +$17,005 |
| Step 2 | $96,584 | $3,714.77 | $46.28 | +$17,572 |
| Step 3 | $99,700 | $3,834.62 | $47.77 | +$18,139 |
| Step 4 | $102,816 | $3,954.46 | $49.26 | +$18,706 |
| Step 5 | $105,932 | $4,074.31 | $50.76 | +$19,273 |
| Step 6 | $109,048 | $4,194.15 | $52.25 | +$19,840 |
| Step 7 | $112,164 | $4,314.00 | $53.74 | +$20,407 |
| Step 8 | $115,280 | $4,433.85 | $55.24 | +$20,974 |
| Step 9 | $118,396 | $4,553.69 | $56.73 | +$21,541 |
| Step 10 | $121,511 | $4,673.50 | $58.22 | +$22,107 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Raleigh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Raleigh: 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 Raleigh pay area adds a 22.24% 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 Raleigh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $3,595 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,674. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Raleigh
GS-12 in Raleigh questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Raleigh?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $93,468 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $121,511. This is 22.24% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Raleigh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2026, it is 22.24%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,005 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Raleigh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $3,595 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.