2018 GL-6 Pay Scale
The 2018 base salary range for GL-6 runs from $37,639 at Step 1 to $47,314 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-6 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2018 GL-6 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-6.
$37,639 GL-6 Step 1 base salary
$47,314 GL-6 Step 10 base salary
Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2018 GL-6 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-6 table for 2018. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,639 | $1,447.65 | $18.03 | - |
| Step 2 | $38,714 | $1,489.00 | $18.55 | - |
| Step 3 | $39,789 | $1,530.35 | $19.07 | - |
| Step 4 | $40,864 | $1,571.69 | $19.58 | - |
| Step 5 | $41,939 | $1,613.04 | $20.10 | - |
| Step 6 | $43,014 | $1,654.38 | $20.61 | - |
| Step 7 | $44,089 | $1,695.73 | $21.13 | - |
| Step 8 | $45,164 | $1,737.08 | $21.64 | - |
| Step 9 | $46,239 | $1,778.42 | $22.16 | - |
| Step 10 | $47,314 | $1,819.77 | $22.67 | - |
What kind of role is GL-6?
Typical role. Experienced officers or investigators with more responsibility, case complexity or patrol authority.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-5 level.
Career progression. A GL-6 employee is commonly next considered for GL-7 or GL-8 promotion.
Step progression for GL-6
GL-6 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-6 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2018. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-6 Step 1 | GL-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 39.28% | $52,424 | $65,899 |
| New York-Newark | 32.13% | $49,732 | $62,516 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 31.74% | $49,586 | $62,331 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 30.57% | $49,145 | $61,778 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 28.22% | $48,261 | $60,666 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 28.21% | $48,257 | $60,661 |
| State of Alaska | 28.02% | $48,185 | $60,571 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 27.88% | $48,133 | $60,505 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 27.48% | $47,982 | $60,316 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 27.47% | $47,978 | $60,311 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 26.25% | $47,519 | $59,734 |
| Denver-Aurora | 25.47% | $47,226 | $59,365 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 25.11% | $47,090 | $59,195 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.86% | $46,996 | $59,076 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 24.59% | $46,894 | $58,949 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 23.40% | $46,447 | $58,385 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 23.37% | $46,435 | $58,371 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.64% | $46,160 | $58,026 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 22.53% | $46,119 | $57,974 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 21.16% | $45,603 | $57,326 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.14% | $45,219 | $56,843 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.08% | $45,197 | $56,815 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.87% | $45,118 | $56,715 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.52% | $44,986 | $56,550 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 19.18% | $44,858 | $56,389 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 19.09% | $44,824 | $56,346 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.97% | $44,779 | $56,289 |
| Richmond | 18.79% | $44,711 | $56,204 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 18.49% | $44,598 | $56,062 |
| State of Hawaii | 18.43% | $44,576 | $56,034 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 18.35% | $44,546 | $55,996 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 18.11% | $44,455 | $55,883 |
| Laredo | 17.40% | $44,188 | $55,547 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 16.71% | $43,928 | $55,220 |
| Colorado Springs | 16.59% | $43,883 | $55,163 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 16.50% | $43,849 | $55,121 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 16.49% | $43,846 | $55,116 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 16.47% | $43,838 | $55,107 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.23% | $43,748 | $54,993 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 16.21% | $43,740 | $54,984 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 16.17% | $43,725 | $54,965 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 16.15% | $43,718 | $54,955 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 16.10% | $43,699 | $54,932 |
| Davenport-Moline | 16.08% | $43,691 | $54,922 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.93% | $43,635 | $54,851 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.76% | $43,571 | $54,771 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.37% | $43,424 | $54,586 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $37,639 | $47,314 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-6
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2018
GL-3 $27,653
GL-4 $31,043
GL-5 $35,700
GL-6 $37,639
GL-7 $40,634
GL-8 $42,355
GL-9 $45,319
GL-10 $49,907
GL-6 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-6 in 2018?
The base starting salary for GL-6 in 2018 is $37,639 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-6 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-6 steps?
Within-grade step increases follow the same OPM timing used for other statutory pay systems: one year between Steps 1 to 4, two years between Steps 4 to 7, and three years between Steps 7 to 10, assuming acceptable performance. -
Does GL-6 include LEAP or overtime?
No. This table shows basic pay only. It does not include law enforcement availability pay, overtime, premium pay, retention incentives, or other agency-specific compensation.