2026 GS-13 Pay in Boston
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,925 on the base table to $120,548 in Boston.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $120,548 | $4,636.46 | $57.76 | +$29,623 |
| Step 2 | $124,567 | $4,791.04 | $59.69 | +$30,611 |
| Step 3 | $128,585 | $4,945.58 | $61.61 | +$31,598 |
| Step 4 | $132,604 | $5,100.15 | $63.54 | +$32,586 |
| Step 5 | $136,622 | $5,254.69 | $65.46 | +$33,573 |
| Step 6 | $140,641 | $5,409.27 | $67.39 | +$34,561 |
| Step 7 | $144,659 | $5,563.81 | $69.31 | +$35,548 |
| Step 8 | $148,678 | $5,718.38 | $71.24 | +$36,536 |
| Step 9 | $152,696 | $5,872.92 | $73.17 | +$37,523 |
| Step 10 | $156,715 | $6,027.50 | $75.09 | +$38,511 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $120,548 | $4,636.46 | $57.76 | +$29,623 |
| Step 2 | $124,567 | $4,791.04 | $59.69 | +$30,611 |
| Step 3 | $128,585 | $4,945.58 | $61.61 | +$31,598 |
| Step 4 | $132,604 | $5,100.15 | $63.54 | +$32,586 |
| Step 5 | $136,622 | $5,254.69 | $65.46 | +$33,573 |
| Step 6 | $140,641 | $5,409.27 | $67.39 | +$34,561 |
| Step 7 | $144,659 | $5,563.81 | $69.31 | +$35,548 |
| Step 8 | $148,678 | $5,718.38 | $71.24 | +$36,536 |
| Step 9 | $152,696 | $5,872.92 | $73.17 | +$37,523 |
| Step 10 | $156,715 | $6,027.50 | $75.09 | +$38,511 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Boston: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2026, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $4,636 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,028. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Boston
GS-13 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Boston?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $120,548 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $156,715. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2026, it is 32.58%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $29,623 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $4,636 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.