2020 GL-4 Pay Scale
The 2020 base salary range for GL-4 runs from $32,297 at Step 1 to $40,370 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-4 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2020 GL-4 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-4.
$32,297 GL-4 Step 1 base salary
$40,370 GL-4 Step 10 base salary
Private First Class Approximate military comparison
2020 GL-4 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-4 table for 2020. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,297 | $1,242.19 | $15.48 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,194 | $1,276.69 | $15.91 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,091 | $1,311.19 | $16.33 | - |
| Step 4 | $34,988 | $1,345.69 | $16.76 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,885 | $1,380.19 | $17.19 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,782 | $1,414.69 | $17.62 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,679 | $1,449.19 | $18.05 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,576 | $1,483.69 | $18.48 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,473 | $1,518.19 | $18.91 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,370 | $1,552.69 | $19.34 | - |
What kind of role is GL-4?
Typical role. Working-level officers and agents with basic independent duties and routine case or patrol work.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-3 level or equivalent training and experience.
Career progression. Many employees advance to GL-5 after one year in grade.
Step progression for GL-4
GL-4 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-4 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2020. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-4 Step 1 | GL-4 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 41.44% | $45,681 | $57,099 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $43,272 | $54,088 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $43,058 | $53,821 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $42,764 | $53,454 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $42,141 | $52,675 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $41,912 | $52,388 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $41,880 | $52,348 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $41,821 | $52,275 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $41,699 | $52,122 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $41,531 | $51,912 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $41,121 | $51,399 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $41,059 | $51,322 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $41,024 | $51,278 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $40,814 | $51,016 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $40,707 | $50,882 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $40,365 | $50,454 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $40,261 | $50,325 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $39,964 | $49,954 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $39,890 | $49,861 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $39,454 | $49,316 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $39,066 | $48,832 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $39,021 | $48,775 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $38,934 | $48,666 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $38,915 | $48,642 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $38,821 | $48,525 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $38,795 | $48,492 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $38,763 | $48,452 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $38,740 | $48,424 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $38,708 | $48,383 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $38,614 | $48,266 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $38,563 | $48,202 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $38,492 | $48,113 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $38,395 | $47,992 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $38,165 | $47,705 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $38,072 | $47,588 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $38,039 | $47,548 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $38,007 | $47,507 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $37,997 | $47,495 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $37,930 | $47,411 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $37,852 | $47,314 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $37,849 | $47,310 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $37,829 | $47,285 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $37,800 | $47,249 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $37,762 | $47,201 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $37,752 | $47,188 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $37,713 | $47,140 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $37,700 | $47,124 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $37,684 | $47,104 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $37,645 | $47,055 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $37,629 | $47,035 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $37,571 | $46,962 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $37,548 | $46,934 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $37,448 | $46,809 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $32,297 | $40,370 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-4
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2020
GL-3 $28,770
GL-4 $32,297
GL-5 $37,141
GL-6 $39,162
GL-7 $42,273
GL-8 $44,064
GL-9 $47,148
GL-10 $51,921
GL-4 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-4 in 2020?
The base starting salary for GL-4 in 2020 is $32,297 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-4 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-4 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-4 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.