2021 GL-6 Pay Scale
The 2021 base salary range for GL-6 runs from $39,553 at Step 1 to $49,723 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 2021 GL-6 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-6.
$39,553 GL-6 Step 1 base salary
$49,723 GL-6 Step 10 base salary
Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2021 GL-6 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-6 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 | $39,553 | $1,521.27 | $18.95 | - |
| Step 2 | $40,683 | $1,564.73 | $19.49 | - |
| Step 3 | $41,813 | $1,608.19 | $20.03 | - |
| Step 4 | $42,943 | $1,651.65 | $20.58 | - |
| Step 5 | $44,073 | $1,695.12 | $21.12 | - |
| Step 6 | $45,203 | $1,738.58 | $21.66 | - |
| Step 7 | $46,333 | $1,782.04 | $22.20 | - |
| Step 8 | $47,463 | $1,825.50 | $22.74 | - |
| Step 9 | $48,593 | $1,868.96 | $23.28 | - |
| Step 10 | $49,723 | $1,912.42 | $23.83 | - |
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 2021. 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 | 41.44% | $55,944 | $70,328 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $52,993 | $66,619 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $52,732 | $66,291 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $52,372 | $65,838 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $51,609 | $64,879 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $51,328 | $64,526 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $51,288 | $64,476 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $51,217 | $64,386 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $51,067 | $64,197 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $50,861 | $63,939 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $50,359 | $63,307 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $50,284 | $63,213 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $50,240 | $63,158 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $49,983 | $62,835 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $49,853 | $62,671 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $49,433 | $62,144 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $49,307 | $61,985 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $48,943 | $61,527 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $48,852 | $61,413 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $48,318 | $60,742 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $47,843 | $60,145 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $47,788 | $60,075 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $47,681 | $59,941 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $47,657 | $59,911 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $47,543 | $59,767 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $47,511 | $59,727 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $47,472 | $59,678 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $47,444 | $59,643 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $47,404 | $59,593 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $47,290 | $59,449 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $47,226 | $59,369 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $47,139 | $59,260 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $47,021 | $59,111 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $46,740 | $58,758 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $46,625 | $58,613 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $46,586 | $58,564 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $46,546 | $58,514 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $46,534 | $58,499 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $46,451 | $58,395 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $46,356 | $58,275 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $46,352 | $58,270 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $46,328 | $58,241 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $46,293 | $58,196 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $46,245 | $58,136 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $46,234 | $58,121 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $46,186 | $58,062 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $46,170 | $58,042 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $46,150 | $58,017 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $46,103 | $57,957 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $46,083 | $57,932 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $46,012 | $57,843 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $45,984 | $57,808 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $45,862 | $57,654 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $45,862 | $57,654 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $39,553 | $49,723 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-6
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-6 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-6 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GL-6 in 2021 is $39,553 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.