2026 GS-6 Pay in San Diego
GS-6 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% on top of the base GS-6 pay scale. That means a GS-6 Step 1 salary jumps from $38,791 on the base table to $51,871 in San Diego.
2026 GS-6 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,871 | $1,995.04 | $24.85 | +$13,080 |
| Step 2 | $53,600 | $2,061.54 | $25.68 | +$13,516 |
| Step 3 | $55,329 | $2,128.04 | $26.51 | +$13,952 |
| Step 4 | $57,058 | $2,194.54 | $27.34 | +$14,388 |
| Step 5 | $58,787 | $2,261.04 | $28.17 | +$14,824 |
| Step 6 | $60,516 | $2,327.54 | $29.00 | +$15,260 |
| Step 7 | $62,245 | $2,394.04 | $29.83 | +$15,696 |
| Step 8 | $63,974 | $2,460.54 | $30.65 | +$16,132 |
| Step 9 | $65,703 | $2,527.04 | $31.48 | +$16,568 |
| Step 10 | $67,432 | $2,593.54 | $32.31 | +$17,004 |
2026 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,871 | $1,995.04 | $24.85 | +$13,080 |
| Step 2 | $53,600 | $2,061.54 | $25.68 | +$13,516 |
| Step 3 | $55,329 | $2,128.04 | $26.51 | +$13,952 |
| Step 4 | $57,058 | $2,194.54 | $27.34 | +$14,388 |
| Step 5 | $58,787 | $2,261.04 | $28.17 | +$14,824 |
| Step 6 | $60,516 | $2,327.54 | $29.00 | +$15,260 |
| Step 7 | $62,245 | $2,394.04 | $29.83 | +$15,696 |
| Step 8 | $63,974 | $2,460.54 | $30.65 | +$16,132 |
| Step 9 | $65,703 | $2,527.04 | $31.48 | +$16,568 |
| Step 10 | $67,432 | $2,593.54 | $32.31 | +$17,004 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in San Diego: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2026, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-6 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-5 level, or a master's degree for some series.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-7 after one year of creditable experience in the grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-6 is O-1 Second Lieutenant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-6 in San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,995 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,594. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-6 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-6 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $51,871 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $67,432. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,080 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,995 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.