2026 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $121,785 in Washington DC.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,785 | $4,684.04 | $58.35 | +$30,860 |
| Step 2 | $125,845 | $4,840.19 | $60.30 | +$31,889 |
| Step 3 | $129,904 | $4,996.31 | $62.24 | +$32,917 |
| Step 4 | $133,964 | $5,152.46 | $64.19 | +$33,946 |
| Step 5 | $138,024 | $5,308.62 | $66.14 | +$34,975 |
| Step 6 | $142,084 | $5,464.77 | $68.08 | +$36,004 |
| Step 7 | $146,143 | $5,620.88 | $70.03 | +$37,032 |
| Step 8 | $150,203 | $5,777.04 | $71.97 | +$38,061 |
| Step 9 | $154,263 | $5,933.19 | $73.92 | +$39,090 |
| Step 10 | $158,322 | $6,089.31 | $75.86 | +$40,118 |
2026 GS-13 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $121,785 | $4,684.04 | $58.35 | +$30,860 |
| Step 2 | $125,845 | $4,840.19 | $60.30 | +$31,889 |
| Step 3 | $129,904 | $4,996.31 | $62.24 | +$32,917 |
| Step 4 | $133,964 | $5,152.46 | $64.19 | +$33,946 |
| Step 5 | $138,024 | $5,308.62 | $66.14 | +$34,975 |
| Step 6 | $142,084 | $5,464.77 | $68.08 | +$36,004 |
| Step 7 | $146,143 | $5,620.88 | $70.03 | +$37,032 |
| Step 8 | $150,203 | $5,777.04 | $71.97 | +$38,061 |
| Step 9 | $154,263 | $5,933.19 | $73.92 | +$39,090 |
| Step 10 | $158,322 | $6,089.31 | $75.86 | +$40,118 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,684 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,089. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-13 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Washington DC?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $121,785 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $158,322. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2026, it is 33.94%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $30,860 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $4,684 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.