2025 GL-4 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-4 runs from $36,957 at Step 1 to $46,200 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 2025 GL-4 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-4.
$36,957 GL-4 Step 1 base salary
$46,200 GL-4 Step 10 base salary
Private First Class Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-4 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-4 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 | $36,957 | $1,421.42 | $17.71 | - |
| Step 2 | $37,984 | $1,460.92 | $18.20 | - |
| Step 3 | $39,011 | $1,500.42 | $18.69 | - |
| Step 4 | $40,038 | $1,539.92 | $19.18 | - |
| Step 5 | $41,065 | $1,579.42 | $19.68 | - |
| Step 6 | $42,092 | $1,618.92 | $20.17 | - |
| Step 7 | $43,119 | $1,658.42 | $20.66 | - |
| Step 8 | $44,146 | $1,697.92 | $21.15 | - |
| Step 9 | $45,173 | $1,737.42 | $21.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $46,200 | $1,776.92 | $22.14 | - |
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 2025. 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 | 46.34% | $54,083 | $67,609 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $50,982 | $63,733 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $50,435 | $63,049 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $49,892 | $62,370 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $49,500 | $61,880 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $49,419 | $61,779 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $48,998 | $61,252 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $48,916 | $61,150 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $48,813 | $61,021 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $48,624 | $60,785 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $48,362 | $60,457 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $48,236 | $60,300 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $47,955 | $59,949 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $47,719 | $59,653 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $47,671 | $59,593 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $47,165 | $58,960 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $47,031 | $58,794 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $46,614 | $58,272 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $46,074 | $57,598 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $45,749 | $57,191 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $45,254 | $56,572 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $45,243 | $56,558 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $45,239 | $56,553 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $45,191 | $56,493 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $45,176 | $56,475 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $45,173 | $56,470 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $45,165 | $56,461 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $45,143 | $56,433 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $45,062 | $56,332 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $45,054 | $56,322 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $44,936 | $56,175 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $44,873 | $56,096 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $44,729 | $55,916 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $44,633 | $55,796 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $44,478 | $55,602 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $44,404 | $55,509 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $44,359 | $55,454 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $44,226 | $55,288 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $44,189 | $55,241 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $44,145 | $55,186 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $44,138 | $55,177 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $44,082 | $55,107 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $43,968 | $54,964 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $43,953 | $54,946 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $43,905 | $54,886 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $43,898 | $54,876 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $43,731 | $54,668 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $43,698 | $54,627 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $43,694 | $54,622 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $43,665 | $54,585 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $43,613 | $54,521 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $43,583 | $54,484 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $43,565 | $54,461 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $43,487 | $54,364 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $43,480 | $54,354 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $43,473 | $54,345 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $43,432 | $54,294 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $43,262 | $54,082 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $36,957 | $46,200 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-4
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-4 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-4 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-4 in 2025 is $36,957 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.