2026 GS-13 Pay in San Diego
GS-13 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% 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 $121,585 in San Diego.
2026 GS-13 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,585 | $4,676.35 | $58.26 | +$30,660 |
| Step 2 | $125,638 | $4,832.23 | $60.20 | +$31,682 |
| Step 3 | $129,691 | $4,988.12 | $62.14 | +$32,704 |
| Step 4 | $133,744 | $5,144.00 | $64.08 | +$33,726 |
| Step 5 | $137,797 | $5,299.88 | $66.03 | +$34,748 |
| Step 6 | $141,850 | $5,455.77 | $67.97 | +$35,770 |
| Step 7 | $145,903 | $5,611.65 | $69.91 | +$36,792 |
| Step 8 | $149,956 | $5,767.54 | $71.85 | +$37,814 |
| Step 9 | $154,009 | $5,923.42 | $73.79 | +$38,836 |
| Step 10 | $158,062 | $6,079.31 | $75.74 | +$39,858 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.72% 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 | $121,585 | $4,676.35 | $58.26 | +$30,660 |
| Step 2 | $125,638 | $4,832.23 | $60.20 | +$31,682 |
| Step 3 | $129,691 | $4,988.12 | $62.14 | +$32,704 |
| Step 4 | $133,744 | $5,144.00 | $64.08 | +$33,726 |
| Step 5 | $137,797 | $5,299.88 | $66.03 | +$34,748 |
| Step 6 | $141,850 | $5,455.77 | $67.97 | +$35,770 |
| Step 7 | $145,903 | $5,611.65 | $69.91 | +$36,792 |
| Step 8 | $149,956 | $5,767.54 | $71.85 | +$37,814 |
| Step 9 | $154,009 | $5,923.42 | $73.79 | +$38,836 |
| Step 10 | $158,062 | $6,079.31 | $75.74 | +$39,858 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in San Diego: 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 San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $4,676 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,079. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-13 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $121,585 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $158,062. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2026, it is 33.72%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $30,660 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $4,676 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.