2026 GS-13 Pay in Denver
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $118,675 in Denver.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $118,675 | $4,564.42 | $56.86 | +$27,750 |
| Step 2 | $122,631 | $4,716.58 | $58.76 | +$28,675 |
| Step 3 | $126,587 | $4,868.73 | $60.66 | +$29,600 |
| Step 4 | $130,543 | $5,020.88 | $62.55 | +$30,525 |
| Step 5 | $134,500 | $5,173.08 | $64.45 | +$31,451 |
| Step 6 | $138,456 | $5,325.23 | $66.34 | +$32,376 |
| Step 7 | $142,412 | $5,477.38 | $68.24 | +$33,301 |
| Step 8 | $146,368 | $5,629.54 | $70.13 | +$34,226 |
| Step 9 | $150,324 | $5,781.69 | $72.03 | +$35,151 |
| Step 10 | $154,280 | $5,933.85 | $73.92 | +$36,076 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $118,675 | $4,564.42 | $56.86 | +$27,750 |
| Step 2 | $122,631 | $4,716.58 | $58.76 | +$28,675 |
| Step 3 | $126,587 | $4,868.73 | $60.66 | +$29,600 |
| Step 4 | $130,543 | $5,020.88 | $62.55 | +$30,525 |
| Step 5 | $134,500 | $5,173.08 | $64.45 | +$31,451 |
| Step 6 | $138,456 | $5,325.23 | $66.34 | +$32,376 |
| Step 7 | $142,412 | $5,477.38 | $68.24 | +$33,301 |
| Step 8 | $146,368 | $5,629.54 | $70.13 | +$34,226 |
| Step 9 | $150,324 | $5,781.69 | $72.03 | +$35,151 |
| Step 10 | $154,280 | $5,933.85 | $73.92 | +$36,076 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $4,564 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,934. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Denver
GS-13 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Denver?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $118,675 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $154,280. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2026, it is 30.52%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,750 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $4,564 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.