2024 GL-3 Pay Scale
The 2024 base salary range for GL-3 runs from $32,369 at Step 1 to $40,460 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-3 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2024 GL-3 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-3.
$32,369 GL-3 Step 1 base salary
$40,460 GL-3 Step 10 base salary
Private Approximate military comparison
2024 GL-3 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-3 table for 2024. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,369 | $1,244.96 | $15.51 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,268 | $1,279.54 | $15.94 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,167 | $1,314.12 | $16.37 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,066 | $1,348.69 | $16.80 | - |
| Step 5 | $35,965 | $1,383.27 | $17.23 | - |
| Step 6 | $36,864 | $1,417.85 | $17.66 | - |
| Step 7 | $37,763 | $1,452.42 | $18.09 | - |
| Step 8 | $38,662 | $1,487.00 | $18.53 | - |
| Step 9 | $39,561 | $1,521.58 | $18.96 | - |
| Step 10 | $40,460 | $1,556.15 | $19.39 | - |
What kind of role is GL-3?
Typical role. Entry-level federal law enforcement roles with basic field duties. This is the starting grade for many criminal investigator and officer ladders.
Typical qualification path. Entry-level experience, academy training, or the minimum qualification standard for the job series.
Career progression. Progression usually moves to GL-4 after one year of satisfactory service.
Step progression for GL-3
GL-3 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-3 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2024. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-3 Step 1 | GL-3 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 45.41% | $47,068 | $58,833 |
| New York-Newark | 37.24% | $44,423 | $55,527 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 35.84% | $43,970 | $54,961 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.72% | $43,608 | $54,508 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.26% | $43,135 | $53,917 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.05% | $43,067 | $53,832 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.97% | $42,717 | $53,395 |
| State of Alaska | 31.96% | $42,714 | $53,391 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 31.62% | $42,604 | $53,253 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 30.81% | $42,342 | $52,926 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.41% | $42,212 | $52,764 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.88% | $42,041 | $52,549 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.16% | $41,808 | $52,258 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.82% | $41,698 | $52,121 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.55% | $41,610 | $52,011 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.15% | $41,157 | $51,445 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.91% | $41,079 | $51,348 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 25.66% | $40,675 | $50,842 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.42% | $40,274 | $50,340 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.45% | $39,960 | $49,948 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.15% | $39,539 | $49,422 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.02% | $39,497 | $49,369 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.01% | $39,493 | $49,365 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.99% | $39,487 | $49,357 |
| Richmond | 21.91% | $39,461 | $49,325 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.90% | $39,458 | $49,321 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.80% | $39,425 | $49,280 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.79% | $39,422 | $49,276 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.69% | $39,390 | $49,236 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.48% | $39,322 | $49,151 |
| Laredo | 21.33% | $39,273 | $49,090 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.14% | $39,212 | $49,013 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.78% | $39,095 | $48,868 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.25% | $38,924 | $48,653 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.99% | $38,840 | $48,548 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.73% | $38,755 | $48,443 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.63% | $38,723 | $48,402 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.26% | $38,603 | $48,253 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.23% | $38,594 | $48,240 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.10% | $38,551 | $48,188 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.97% | $38,509 | $48,135 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.92% | $38,493 | $48,115 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.66% | $38,409 | $48,010 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.65% | $38,406 | $48,006 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.49% | $38,354 | $47,941 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.46% | $38,344 | $47,929 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.05% | $38,212 | $47,763 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.94% | $38,176 | $47,719 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.91% | $38,166 | $47,706 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.89% | $38,160 | $47,698 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.68% | $38,092 | $47,613 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.60% | $38,066 | $47,581 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.40% | $38,001 | $47,500 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.35% | $37,985 | $47,480 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.18% | $37,930 | $47,411 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.15% | $37,920 | $47,399 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.11% | $37,907 | $47,383 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.82% | $37,813 | $47,265 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $32,369 | $40,460 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-3
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2024
GL-3 $32,369
GL-4 $36,334
GL-5 $41,781
GL-6 $44,060
GL-7 $47,562
GL-8 $49,573
GL-9 $53,043
GL-10 $58,412
GL-3 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-3 in 2024?
The base starting salary for GL-3 in 2024 is $32,369 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-3 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-3 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-3 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.