2026 GS-13 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $117,284 in Philadelphia.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $117,284 | $4,510.92 | $56.20 | +$26,359 |
| Step 2 | $121,194 | $4,661.31 | $58.07 | +$27,238 |
| Step 3 | $125,104 | $4,811.69 | $59.94 | +$28,117 |
| Step 4 | $129,013 | $4,962.04 | $61.82 | +$28,995 |
| Step 5 | $132,923 | $5,112.42 | $63.69 | +$29,874 |
| Step 6 | $136,833 | $5,262.81 | $65.56 | +$30,753 |
| Step 7 | $140,742 | $5,413.15 | $67.44 | +$31,631 |
| Step 8 | $144,652 | $5,563.54 | $69.31 | +$32,510 |
| Step 9 | $148,562 | $5,713.92 | $71.18 | +$33,389 |
| Step 10 | $152,471 | $5,864.27 | $73.06 | +$34,267 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $117,284 | $4,510.92 | $56.20 | +$26,359 |
| Step 2 | $121,194 | $4,661.31 | $58.07 | +$27,238 |
| Step 3 | $125,104 | $4,811.69 | $59.94 | +$28,117 |
| Step 4 | $129,013 | $4,962.04 | $61.82 | +$28,995 |
| Step 5 | $132,923 | $5,112.42 | $63.69 | +$29,874 |
| Step 6 | $136,833 | $5,262.81 | $65.56 | +$30,753 |
| Step 7 | $140,742 | $5,413.15 | $67.44 | +$31,631 |
| Step 8 | $144,652 | $5,563.54 | $69.31 | +$32,510 |
| Step 9 | $148,562 | $5,713.92 | $71.18 | +$33,389 |
| Step 10 | $152,471 | $5,864.27 | $73.06 | +$34,267 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Philadelphia: 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 Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $4,511 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,864. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-13 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Philadelphia?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $117,284 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $152,471. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2026, it is 28.99%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,359 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $4,511 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.