2021 GL-3 Pay Scale
The 2021 base salary range for GL-3 runs from $29,058 at Step 1 to $36,321 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-3 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2021 GL-3 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-3.
$29,058 GL-3 Step 1 base salary
$36,321 GL-3 Step 10 base salary
Private Approximate military comparison
2021 GL-3 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-3 table for 2021. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $29,058 | $1,117.62 | $13.92 | - |
| Step 2 | $29,865 | $1,148.65 | $14.31 | - |
| Step 3 | $30,672 | $1,179.69 | $14.70 | - |
| Step 4 | $31,479 | $1,210.73 | $15.08 | - |
| Step 5 | $32,286 | $1,241.77 | $15.47 | - |
| Step 6 | $33,093 | $1,272.81 | $15.86 | - |
| Step 7 | $33,900 | $1,303.85 | $16.24 | - |
| Step 8 | $34,707 | $1,334.88 | $16.63 | - |
| Step 9 | $35,514 | $1,365.92 | $17.02 | - |
| Step 10 | $36,321 | $1,396.96 | $17.40 | - |
What kind of role is GL-3?
Typical role. Entry-level federal law enforcement roles with basic field duties. This is the starting grade for many criminal investigator and officer ladders.
Typical qualification path. Entry-level experience, academy training, or the minimum qualification standard for the job series.
Career progression. Progression usually moves to GL-4 after one year of satisfactory service.
Step progression for GL-3
GL-3 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-3 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2021. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-3 Step 1 | GL-3 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 41.44% | $41,100 | $51,372 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $38,932 | $48,663 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $38,740 | $48,423 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $38,476 | $48,093 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $37,915 | $47,392 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $37,709 | $47,134 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $37,680 | $47,097 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $37,627 | $47,032 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $37,517 | $46,894 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $37,366 | $46,705 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $36,997 | $46,244 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $36,941 | $46,175 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $36,909 | $46,135 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $36,721 | $45,899 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $36,625 | $45,779 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $36,317 | $45,394 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $36,224 | $45,278 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $35,956 | $44,944 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $35,890 | $44,860 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $35,497 | $44,370 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $35,149 | $43,934 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $35,108 | $43,883 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $35,029 | $43,785 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $35,012 | $43,763 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $34,928 | $43,658 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $34,904 | $43,629 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $34,875 | $43,592 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $34,855 | $43,567 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $34,826 | $43,531 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $34,742 | $43,425 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $34,695 | $43,367 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $34,631 | $43,287 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $34,544 | $43,178 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $34,338 | $42,921 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $34,254 | $42,815 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $34,225 | $42,779 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $34,195 | $42,743 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $34,187 | $42,732 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $34,126 | $42,655 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $34,056 | $42,568 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $34,053 | $42,565 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $34,036 | $42,543 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $34,009 | $42,510 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $33,975 | $42,467 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $33,966 | $42,456 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $33,931 | $42,412 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $33,919 | $42,398 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $33,905 | $42,379 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $33,870 | $42,336 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $33,855 | $42,318 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $33,803 | $42,252 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $33,783 | $42,227 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $33,693 | $42,114 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $33,693 | $42,114 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $29,058 | $36,321 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-3
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2021
GL-3 $29,058
GL-4 $32,620
GL-5 $37,512
GL-6 $39,553
GL-7 $42,698
GL-8 $44,505
GL-9 $47,619
GL-10 $52,440
GL-3 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-3 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GL-3 in 2021 is $29,058 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-3 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-3 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-3 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.