2025 GL-3 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-3 runs from $32,918 at Step 1 to $41,144 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 2025 GL-3 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-3.
$32,918 GL-3 Step 1 base salary
$41,144 GL-3 Step 10 base salary
Private Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-3 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-3 table for 2025. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,918 | $1,266.08 | $15.77 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,832 | $1,301.23 | $16.21 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,746 | $1,336.38 | $16.65 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,660 | $1,371.54 | $17.09 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,574 | $1,406.69 | $17.52 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,488 | $1,441.85 | $17.96 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,402 | $1,477.00 | $18.40 | - |
| Step 8 | $39,316 | $1,512.15 | $18.84 | - |
| Step 9 | $40,230 | $1,547.31 | $19.28 | - |
| Step 10 | $41,144 | $1,582.46 | $19.71 | - |
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 2025. 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 | 46.34% | $48,172 | $60,210 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $45,410 | $56,758 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $44,923 | $56,149 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $44,439 | $55,544 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $44,090 | $55,108 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $44,018 | $55,018 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $43,643 | $54,549 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $43,570 | $54,458 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $43,478 | $54,343 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $43,310 | $54,133 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $43,076 | $53,841 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $42,965 | $53,701 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $42,714 | $53,388 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $42,504 | $53,125 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $42,461 | $53,072 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $42,010 | $52,508 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $41,891 | $52,360 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $41,519 | $51,895 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $41,039 | $51,294 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $40,749 | $50,932 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $40,308 | $50,381 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $40,298 | $50,368 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $40,295 | $50,364 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $40,252 | $50,311 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $40,239 | $50,294 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $40,236 | $50,290 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $40,229 | $50,282 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $40,209 | $50,257 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $40,137 | $50,167 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $40,130 | $50,159 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $40,025 | $50,027 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $39,969 | $49,957 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $39,841 | $49,797 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $39,755 | $49,690 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $39,617 | $49,517 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $39,551 | $49,435 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $39,511 | $49,385 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $39,393 | $49,237 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $39,360 | $49,196 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $39,321 | $49,147 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $39,314 | $49,138 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $39,265 | $49,077 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $39,163 | $48,949 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $39,149 | $48,933 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $39,107 | $48,879 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $39,100 | $48,871 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $38,952 | $48,686 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $38,922 | $48,649 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $38,919 | $48,645 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $38,893 | $48,612 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $38,847 | $48,554 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $38,820 | $48,521 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $38,804 | $48,501 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $38,735 | $48,414 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $38,728 | $48,406 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $38,721 | $48,398 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $38,685 | $48,352 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $38,534 | $48,163 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $32,918 | $41,144 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-3
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2025
GL-3 $32,918
GL-4 $36,957
GL-5 $42,490
GL-6 $44,807
GL-7 $48,371
GL-8 $50,417
GL-9 $53,945
GL-10 $59,405
GL-3 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-3 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-3 in 2025 is $32,918 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.