2023 GL-7 Pay Scale
The 2023 base salary range for GL-7 runs from $45,426 at Step 1 to $57,450 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 2023 GL-7 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-7.
$45,426 GL-7 Step 1 base salary
$57,450 GL-7 Step 10 base salary
Staff Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2023 GL-7 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-7 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 | $45,426 | $1,747.15 | $21.77 | - |
| Step 2 | $46,762 | $1,798.54 | $22.41 | - |
| Step 3 | $48,098 | $1,849.92 | $23.05 | - |
| Step 4 | $49,434 | $1,901.31 | $23.69 | - |
| Step 5 | $50,770 | $1,952.69 | $24.33 | - |
| Step 6 | $52,106 | $2,004.08 | $24.97 | - |
| Step 7 | $53,442 | $2,055.46 | $25.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $54,778 | $2,106.85 | $26.25 | - |
| Step 9 | $56,114 | $2,158.23 | $26.89 | - |
| Step 10 | $57,450 | $2,209.62 | $27.53 | - |
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 2023. 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 | 44.15% | $65,482 | $82,814 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $61,852 | $78,224 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $61,275 | $77,494 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $61,084 | $77,253 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $60,185 | $76,116 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $59,967 | $75,840 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $59,653 | $75,443 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $59,531 | $75,288 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $59,467 | $75,208 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $58,958 | $74,564 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $58,858 | $74,438 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $58,622 | $74,139 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $58,313 | $73,749 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $58,282 | $73,708 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $58,073 | $73,444 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $57,414 | $72,611 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $57,405 | $72,600 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $56,773 | $71,801 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $56,392 | $71,318 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $55,883 | $70,675 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $55,302 | $69,940 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $55,279 | $69,911 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $55,165 | $69,767 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $55,138 | $69,733 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $55,134 | $69,727 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $55,124 | $69,716 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $55,124 | $69,716 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $55,088 | $69,670 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $55,043 | $69,612 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $54,947 | $69,492 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $54,802 | $69,308 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $54,779 | $69,279 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $54,679 | $69,153 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $54,261 | $68,624 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $54,239 | $68,595 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $54,107 | $68,429 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $54,102 | $68,423 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $53,948 | $68,228 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $53,889 | $68,153 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $53,871 | $68,130 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $53,784 | $68,021 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $53,744 | $67,969 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $53,698 | $67,912 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $53,684 | $67,894 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $53,603 | $67,791 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $53,575 | $67,757 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $53,435 | $67,578 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $53,407 | $67,544 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $53,385 | $67,515 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $53,335 | $67,452 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $53,285 | $67,389 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $53,207 | $67,291 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $53,194 | $67,274 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $52,921 | $66,929 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $45,426 | $57,450 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-7
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-7 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-7 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GL-7 in 2023 is $45,426 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.