2026 GS-4 Pay in San Diego
GS-4 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% on top of the base GS-4 pay scale. That means a GS-4 Step 1 salary jumps from $31,103 on the base table to $41,591 in San Diego.
2026 GS-4 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-4 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,591 | $1,599.65 | $19.93 | +$10,488 |
| Step 2 | $42,978 | $1,653.00 | $20.59 | +$10,838 |
| Step 3 | $44,364 | $1,706.31 | $21.26 | +$11,187 |
| Step 4 | $45,751 | $1,759.65 | $21.92 | +$11,537 |
| Step 5 | $47,138 | $1,813.00 | $22.59 | +$11,887 |
| Step 6 | $48,524 | $1,866.31 | $23.25 | +$12,236 |
| Step 7 | $49,911 | $1,919.65 | $23.92 | +$12,586 |
| Step 8 | $51,298 | $1,973.00 | $24.58 | +$12,936 |
| Step 9 | $52,684 | $2,026.31 | $25.24 | +$13,285 |
| Step 10 | $54,071 | $2,079.65 | $25.91 | +$13,635 |
2026 GS-4 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-4 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,591 | $1,599.65 | $19.93 | +$10,488 |
| Step 2 | $42,978 | $1,653.00 | $20.59 | +$10,838 |
| Step 3 | $44,364 | $1,706.31 | $21.26 | +$11,187 |
| Step 4 | $45,751 | $1,759.65 | $21.92 | +$11,537 |
| Step 5 | $47,138 | $1,813.00 | $22.59 | +$11,887 |
| Step 6 | $48,524 | $1,866.31 | $23.25 | +$12,236 |
| Step 7 | $49,911 | $1,919.65 | $23.92 | +$12,586 |
| Step 8 | $51,298 | $1,973.00 | $24.58 | +$12,936 |
| Step 9 | $52,684 | $2,026.31 | $25.24 | +$13,285 |
| Step 10 | $54,071 | $2,079.65 | $25.91 | +$13,635 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-4 in San Diego: what to expect
Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
For 2026, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-4 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. Two years of post-secondary education, an associate's degree, or one year of GS-3 equivalent experience.
Promotion path. Usually promoted to GS-5 after one year in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-4 is E-5 Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-4 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,600 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,080. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-4 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-4 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $41,591 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,071. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-4 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-4 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-4 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,488 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-4 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,600 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.