2023 GL-4 Pay Scale
The 2023 base salary range for GL-4 runs from $34,705 at Step 1 to $43,381 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 2023 GL-4 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-4.
$34,705 GL-4 Step 1 base salary
$43,381 GL-4 Step 10 base salary
Private First Class Approximate military comparison
2023 GL-4 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-4 table for 2023. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $34,705 | $1,334.81 | $16.63 | - |
| Step 2 | $35,669 | $1,371.88 | $17.09 | - |
| Step 3 | $36,633 | $1,408.96 | $17.55 | - |
| Step 4 | $37,597 | $1,446.04 | $18.01 | - |
| Step 5 | $38,561 | $1,483.12 | $18.48 | - |
| Step 6 | $39,525 | $1,520.19 | $18.94 | - |
| Step 7 | $40,489 | $1,557.27 | $19.40 | - |
| Step 8 | $41,453 | $1,594.35 | $19.86 | - |
| Step 9 | $42,417 | $1,631.42 | $20.32 | - |
| Step 10 | $43,381 | $1,668.50 | $20.79 | - |
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 2023. 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 | 44.15% | $50,027 | $62,534 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $47,254 | $59,068 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $46,814 | $58,517 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $46,668 | $58,334 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $45,981 | $57,475 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $45,814 | $57,267 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $45,575 | $56,968 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $45,481 | $56,851 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $45,432 | $56,790 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $45,044 | $56,304 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $44,967 | $56,209 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $44,787 | $55,983 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $44,551 | $55,688 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $44,527 | $55,658 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $44,367 | $55,458 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $43,864 | $54,829 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $43,857 | $54,821 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $43,374 | $54,218 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $43,083 | $53,853 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $42,694 | $53,367 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $42,250 | $52,812 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $42,233 | $52,790 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $42,146 | $52,682 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $42,125 | $52,656 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $42,121 | $52,652 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $42,115 | $52,643 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $42,115 | $52,643 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $42,087 | $52,608 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $42,052 | $52,565 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $41,979 | $52,474 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $41,868 | $52,335 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $41,851 | $52,313 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $41,774 | $52,218 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $41,455 | $51,819 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $41,438 | $51,797 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $41,337 | $51,671 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $41,334 | $51,667 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $41,216 | $51,519 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $41,171 | $51,463 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $41,157 | $51,446 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $41,091 | $51,363 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $41,059 | $51,324 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $41,025 | $51,281 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $41,014 | $51,268 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $40,952 | $51,190 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $40,931 | $51,164 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $40,823 | $51,029 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $40,803 | $51,003 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $40,785 | $50,981 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $40,747 | $50,934 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $40,709 | $50,886 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $40,650 | $50,812 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $40,640 | $50,799 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $40,431 | $50,539 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $34,705 | $43,381 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-4
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2023
GL-3 $30,918
GL-4 $34,705
GL-5 $39,910
GL-6 $42,080
GL-7 $45,426
GL-8 $47,349
GL-9 $50,662
GL-10 $55,790
GL-4 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-4 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GL-4 in 2023 is $34,705 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.