2026 GS-4 Pay in San Francisco
GS-4 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 46.34% 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 $45,516 in San Francisco.
2026 GS-4 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-4 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,516 | $1,750.62 | $21.81 | +$14,413 |
| Step 2 | $47,034 | $1,809.00 | $22.54 | +$14,894 |
| Step 3 | $48,551 | $1,867.35 | $23.26 | +$15,374 |
| Step 4 | $50,069 | $1,925.73 | $23.99 | +$15,855 |
| Step 5 | $51,586 | $1,984.08 | $24.72 | +$16,335 |
| Step 6 | $53,104 | $2,042.46 | $25.45 | +$16,816 |
| Step 7 | $54,621 | $2,100.81 | $26.17 | +$17,296 |
| Step 8 | $56,139 | $2,159.19 | $26.90 | +$17,777 |
| Step 9 | $57,656 | $2,217.54 | $27.63 | +$18,257 |
| Step 10 | $59,174 | $2,275.92 | $28.35 | +$18,738 |
2026 GS-4 pay table for San Francisco
Each step below already includes the 46.34% 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 | $45,516 | $1,750.62 | $21.81 | +$14,413 |
| Step 2 | $47,034 | $1,809.00 | $22.54 | +$14,894 |
| Step 3 | $48,551 | $1,867.35 | $23.26 | +$15,374 |
| Step 4 | $50,069 | $1,925.73 | $23.99 | +$15,855 |
| Step 5 | $51,586 | $1,984.08 | $24.72 | +$16,335 |
| Step 6 | $53,104 | $2,042.46 | $25.45 | +$16,816 |
| Step 7 | $54,621 | $2,100.81 | $26.17 | +$17,296 |
| Step 8 | $56,139 | $2,159.19 | $26.90 | +$17,777 |
| Step 9 | $57,656 | $2,217.54 | $27.63 | +$18,257 |
| Step 10 | $59,174 | $2,275.92 | $28.35 | +$18,738 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-4 in San Francisco: what to expect
Office assistants, supply and inventory clerks, entry-level technicians and program aides.
For 2026, the San Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,751 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,276. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-4 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-4 make in San Francisco?
In 2026, a GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $45,516 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,174. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-4 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-4 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2026, it is 46.34%. On a GS-4 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,413 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-4 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-4 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,751 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.