2021 GL-4 Pay Scale
The 2021 base salary range for GL-4 runs from $32,620 at Step 1 to $40,774 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 2021 GL-4 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-4.
$32,620 GL-4 Step 1 base salary
$40,774 GL-4 Step 10 base salary
Private First Class Approximate military comparison
2021 GL-4 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-4 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 | $32,620 | $1,254.62 | $15.63 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,526 | $1,289.46 | $16.06 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,432 | $1,324.31 | $16.50 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,338 | $1,359.15 | $16.93 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,244 | $1,394.00 | $17.37 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,150 | $1,428.85 | $17.80 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,056 | $1,463.69 | $18.23 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,962 | $1,498.54 | $18.67 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,868 | $1,533.38 | $19.10 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,774 | $1,568.23 | $19.54 | - |
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 2021. 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% | $46,138 | $57,671 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $43,704 | $54,629 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $43,489 | $54,360 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $43,192 | $53,989 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $42,563 | $53,202 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $42,331 | $52,912 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $42,298 | $52,872 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $42,240 | $52,798 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $42,116 | $52,643 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $41,946 | $52,431 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $41,532 | $51,913 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $41,470 | $51,836 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $41,434 | $51,791 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $41,222 | $51,526 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $41,114 | $51,392 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $40,768 | $50,959 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $40,664 | $50,829 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $40,364 | $50,454 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $40,289 | $50,360 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $39,849 | $49,810 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $39,457 | $49,320 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $39,411 | $49,263 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $39,323 | $49,153 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $39,304 | $49,129 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $39,209 | $49,010 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $39,183 | $48,978 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $39,151 | $48,937 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $39,128 | $48,908 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $39,095 | $48,868 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $39,000 | $48,749 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $38,948 | $48,684 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $38,877 | $48,594 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $38,779 | $48,472 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $38,547 | $48,183 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $38,452 | $48,064 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $38,420 | $48,024 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $38,387 | $47,983 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $38,377 | $47,971 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $38,309 | $47,885 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $38,231 | $47,787 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $38,227 | $47,783 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $38,208 | $47,759 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $38,178 | $47,722 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $38,139 | $47,673 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $38,130 | $47,661 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $38,090 | $47,612 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $38,077 | $47,595 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $38,061 | $47,575 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $38,022 | $47,526 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $38,006 | $47,506 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $37,947 | $47,432 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $37,924 | $47,404 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $37,823 | $47,277 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $37,823 | $47,277 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $32,620 | $40,774 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-4
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-4 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-4 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GL-4 in 2021 is $32,620 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.