2026 GS-6 Pay in San Francisco
GS-6 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 46.34% 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 $56,767 in San Francisco.
2026 GS-6 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-6 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $56,767 | $2,183.35 | $27.20 | +$17,976 |
| Step 2 | $58,659 | $2,256.12 | $28.11 | +$18,575 |
| Step 3 | $60,551 | $2,328.88 | $29.01 | +$19,174 |
| Step 4 | $62,443 | $2,401.65 | $29.92 | +$19,773 |
| Step 5 | $64,335 | $2,474.42 | $30.83 | +$20,372 |
| Step 6 | $66,228 | $2,547.23 | $31.73 | +$20,972 |
| Step 7 | $68,120 | $2,620.00 | $32.64 | +$21,571 |
| Step 8 | $70,012 | $2,692.77 | $33.55 | +$22,170 |
| Step 9 | $71,904 | $2,765.54 | $34.45 | +$22,769 |
| Step 10 | $73,796 | $2,838.31 | $35.36 | +$23,368 |
2026 GS-6 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-6 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $56,767 | $2,183.35 | $27.20 | +$17,976 |
| Step 2 | $58,659 | $2,256.12 | $28.11 | +$18,575 |
| Step 3 | $60,551 | $2,328.88 | $29.01 | +$19,174 |
| Step 4 | $62,443 | $2,401.65 | $29.92 | +$19,773 |
| Step 5 | $64,335 | $2,474.42 | $30.83 | +$20,372 |
| Step 6 | $66,228 | $2,547.23 | $31.73 | +$20,972 |
| Step 7 | $68,120 | $2,620.00 | $32.64 | +$21,571 |
| Step 8 | $70,012 | $2,692.77 | $33.55 | +$22,170 |
| Step 9 | $71,904 | $2,765.54 | $34.45 | +$22,769 |
| Step 10 | $73,796 | $2,838.31 | $35.36 | +$23,368 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-6 in San Francisco: what to expect
Experienced technicians and mid-level administrative support, including contract specialists, paralegals, medical technicians and HR specialists.
For 2026, the San Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,183 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,838. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-6 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-6 make in San Francisco?
In 2026, a GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $56,767 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $73,796. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-6 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-6 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-6 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,976 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-6 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-6 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,183 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.