2022 GL-7 Pay Scale
The 2022 base salary range for GL-7 runs from $43,635 at Step 1 to $55,182 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-7 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2022 GL-7 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-7.
$43,635 GL-7 Step 1 base salary
$55,182 GL-7 Step 10 base salary
Staff Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2022 GL-7 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-7 table for 2022. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $43,635 | $1,678.27 | $20.91 | - |
| Step 2 | $44,918 | $1,727.62 | $21.52 | - |
| Step 3 | $46,201 | $1,776.96 | $22.14 | - |
| Step 4 | $47,484 | $1,826.31 | $22.75 | - |
| Step 5 | $48,767 | $1,875.65 | $23.37 | - |
| Step 6 | $50,050 | $1,925.00 | $23.98 | - |
| Step 7 | $51,333 | $1,974.35 | $24.60 | - |
| Step 8 | $52,616 | $2,023.69 | $25.21 | - |
| Step 9 | $53,899 | $2,073.04 | $25.83 | - |
| Step 10 | $55,182 | $2,122.38 | $26.44 | - |
What kind of role is GL-7?
Typical role. Advanced journeyman roles, senior investigators and officers with broader case work or field duties.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-6 level.
Career progression. Promotion to GL-8 or GL-9 generally requires competitive selection and a higher-grade vacancy.
Step progression for GL-7
GL-7 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-7 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2022. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-7 Step 1 | GL-7 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 42.74% | $62,285 | $78,767 |
| New York-Newark | 35.06% | $58,933 | $74,529 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.96% | $58,453 | $73,922 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 33.61% | $58,301 | $73,729 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 31.53% | $57,393 | $72,581 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 30.87% | $57,105 | $72,217 |
| State of Alaska | 30.42% | $56,909 | $71,968 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.20% | $56,813 | $71,847 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 30.09% | $56,765 | $71,786 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.18% | $56,368 | $71,284 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 28.28% | $55,975 | $70,787 |
| Denver-Aurora | 28.10% | $55,896 | $70,688 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.86% | $55,792 | $70,556 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 27.30% | $55,547 | $70,247 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.95% | $55,395 | $70,054 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 25.68% | $54,840 | $69,353 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 25.49% | $54,758 | $69,248 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.34% | $54,256 | $68,613 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.80% | $54,020 | $68,315 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.63% | $53,510 | $67,670 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.32% | $52,938 | $66,947 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.25% | $52,907 | $66,908 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.94% | $52,772 | $66,737 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.94% | $52,772 | $66,737 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.84% | $52,729 | $66,682 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.78% | $52,702 | $66,649 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.69% | $52,663 | $66,599 |
| Richmond | 20.64% | $52,641 | $66,572 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.45% | $52,558 | $66,467 |
| State of Hawaii | 20.40% | $52,537 | $66,439 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.93% | $52,331 | $66,180 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.90% | $52,318 | $66,163 |
| Laredo | 19.85% | $52,297 | $66,136 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.80% | $51,838 | $65,556 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 18.68% | $51,786 | $65,490 |
| Colorado Springs | 18.42% | $51,673 | $65,347 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 18.35% | $51,642 | $65,308 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.25% | $51,598 | $65,253 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.06% | $51,515 | $65,148 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.90% | $51,446 | $65,060 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.77% | $51,389 | $64,988 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.67% | $51,345 | $64,933 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 17.62% | $51,323 | $64,905 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.58% | $51,306 | $64,883 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 17.39% | $51,223 | $64,778 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.26% | $51,166 | $64,706 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.18% | $51,131 | $64,662 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.14% | $51,114 | $64,640 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.01% | $51,057 | $64,568 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.93% | $51,022 | $64,524 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.82% | $50,974 | $64,464 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.81% | $50,970 | $64,458 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 16.52% | $50,844 | $64,298 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.20% | $50,704 | $64,121 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $43,635 | $55,182 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-7
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2022
GL-3 $29,699
GL-4 $33,338
GL-5 $38,335
GL-6 $40,424
GL-7 $43,635
GL-8 $45,483
GL-9 $48,667
GL-10 $53,593
GL-7 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-7 in 2022?
The base starting salary for GL-7 in 2022 is $43,635 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-7 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-7 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-7 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.