2026 GS-13 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 36.47% 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 $124,085 in Los Angeles.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $124,085 | $4,772.50 | $59.46 | +$33,160 |
| Step 2 | $128,222 | $4,931.62 | $61.44 | +$34,266 |
| Step 3 | $132,358 | $5,090.69 | $63.42 | +$35,371 |
| Step 4 | $136,495 | $5,249.81 | $65.40 | +$36,477 |
| Step 5 | $140,631 | $5,408.88 | $67.38 | +$37,582 |
| Step 6 | $144,767 | $5,567.96 | $69.37 | +$38,687 |
| Step 7 | $148,904 | $5,727.08 | $71.35 | +$39,793 |
| Step 8 | $153,040 | $5,886.15 | $73.33 | +$40,898 |
| Step 9 | $157,177 | $6,045.27 | $75.31 | +$42,004 |
| Step 10 | $161,313 | $6,204.35 | $77.29 | +$43,109 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 36.47% 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 | $124,085 | $4,772.50 | $59.46 | +$33,160 |
| Step 2 | $128,222 | $4,931.62 | $61.44 | +$34,266 |
| Step 3 | $132,358 | $5,090.69 | $63.42 | +$35,371 |
| Step 4 | $136,495 | $5,249.81 | $65.40 | +$36,477 |
| Step 5 | $140,631 | $5,408.88 | $67.38 | +$37,582 |
| Step 6 | $144,767 | $5,567.96 | $69.37 | +$38,687 |
| Step 7 | $148,904 | $5,727.08 | $71.35 | +$39,793 |
| Step 8 | $153,040 | $5,886.15 | $73.33 | +$40,898 |
| Step 9 | $157,177 | $6,045.27 | $75.31 | +$42,004 |
| Step 10 | $161,313 | $6,204.35 | $77.29 | +$43,109 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Los Angeles: 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 Los Angeles pay area adds a 36.47% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $4,773 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,204. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-13 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Los Angeles?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $124,085 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $161,313. This is 36.47% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2026, it is 36.47%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $33,160 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $4,773 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.