2026 GS-12 Pay in Virginia Beach
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC earn 18.80% 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 $90,838 in Virginia Beach.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Virginia Beach
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $90,838 | $3,493.77 | $43.53 | +$14,375 |
| Step 2 | $93,866 | $3,610.23 | $44.98 | +$14,854 |
| Step 3 | $96,894 | $3,726.69 | $46.43 | +$15,333 |
| Step 4 | $99,923 | $3,843.19 | $47.88 | +$15,813 |
| Step 5 | $102,951 | $3,959.65 | $49.33 | +$16,292 |
| Step 6 | $105,979 | $4,076.12 | $50.78 | +$16,771 |
| Step 7 | $109,007 | $4,192.58 | $52.23 | +$17,250 |
| Step 8 | $112,036 | $4,309.08 | $53.68 | +$17,730 |
| Step 9 | $115,064 | $4,425.54 | $55.13 | +$18,209 |
| Step 10 | $118,092 | $4,542.00 | $56.58 | +$18,688 |
2026 GS-12 pay table for Virginia Beach
Each step below already includes the 18.80% 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 | $90,838 | $3,493.77 | $43.53 | +$14,375 |
| Step 2 | $93,866 | $3,610.23 | $44.98 | +$14,854 |
| Step 3 | $96,894 | $3,726.69 | $46.43 | +$15,333 |
| Step 4 | $99,923 | $3,843.19 | $47.88 | +$15,813 |
| Step 5 | $102,951 | $3,959.65 | $49.33 | +$16,292 |
| Step 6 | $105,979 | $4,076.12 | $50.78 | +$16,771 |
| Step 7 | $109,007 | $4,192.58 | $52.23 | +$17,250 |
| Step 8 | $112,036 | $4,309.08 | $53.68 | +$17,730 |
| Step 9 | $115,064 | $4,425.54 | $55.13 | +$18,209 |
| Step 10 | $118,092 | $4,542.00 | $56.58 | +$18,688 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Virginia Beach pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Virginia Beach: 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 Virginia Beach pay area adds a 18.80% 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 Virginia Beach
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns roughly $3,494 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,542. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Virginia Beach
GS-12 in Virginia Beach questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Virginia Beach?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns $90,838 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $118,092. This is 18.80% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in Virginia Beach?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Virginia Beach in 2026, it is 18.80%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,375 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Virginia Beach?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns roughly $3,494 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.