2026 GS-14 Pay in San Diego
GS-14 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% on top of the base GS-14 pay scale. That means a GS-14 Step 1 salary jumps from $107,446 on the base table to $143,677 in San Diego.
2026 GS-14 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-14 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $143,677 | $5,526.04 | $68.84 | +$36,231 |
| Step 2 | $148,467 | $5,710.27 | $71.14 | +$37,439 |
| Step 3 | $153,256 | $5,894.46 | $73.43 | +$38,646 |
| Step 4 | $158,046 | $6,078.69 | $75.73 | +$39,854 |
| Step 5 | $162,836 | $6,262.92 | $78.02 | +$41,062 |
| Step 6 | $167,626 | $6,447.15 | $80.32 | +$42,270 |
| Step 7 | $172,416 | $6,631.38 | $82.61 | +$43,478 |
| Step 8 | $177,206 | $6,815.62 | $84.91 | +$44,686 |
| Step 9 | $181,996 | $6,999.85 | $87.20 | +$45,894 |
| Step 10 | $186,785 | $7,184.04 | $89.50 | +$47,101 |
2026 GS-14 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-14 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $143,677 | $5,526.04 | $68.84 | +$36,231 |
| Step 2 | $148,467 | $5,710.27 | $71.14 | +$37,439 |
| Step 3 | $153,256 | $5,894.46 | $73.43 | +$38,646 |
| Step 4 | $158,046 | $6,078.69 | $75.73 | +$39,854 |
| Step 5 | $162,836 | $6,262.92 | $78.02 | +$41,062 |
| Step 6 | $167,626 | $6,447.15 | $80.32 | +$42,270 |
| Step 7 | $172,416 | $6,631.38 | $82.61 | +$43,478 |
| Step 8 | $177,206 | $6,815.62 | $84.91 | +$44,686 |
| Step 9 | $181,996 | $6,999.85 | $87.20 | +$45,894 |
| Step 10 | $186,785 | $7,184.04 | $89.50 | +$47,101 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-14 in San Diego: what to expect
Supervisory managers, senior program leads and senior technical experts. Many agency branch chiefs sit at GS-14.
For 2026, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-14 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-13 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-15 is selective; many GS-14 employees reach this grade as a career peak.
The rough military equivalent for GS-14 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-14 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $5,526 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,184. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-14 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-14 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $143,677 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $186,785. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-14 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-14 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-14 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $36,231 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-14 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-14 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $5,526 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.