2025 GL-6 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-6 runs from $44,807 at Step 1 to $56,327 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-6 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2025 GL-6 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-6.
$44,807 GL-6 Step 1 base salary
$56,327 GL-6 Step 10 base salary
Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-6 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-6 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 | $44,807 | $1,723.35 | $21.47 | - |
| Step 2 | $46,087 | $1,772.58 | $22.08 | - |
| Step 3 | $47,367 | $1,821.81 | $22.70 | - |
| Step 4 | $48,647 | $1,871.04 | $23.31 | - |
| Step 5 | $49,927 | $1,920.27 | $23.92 | - |
| Step 6 | $51,207 | $1,969.50 | $24.54 | - |
| Step 7 | $52,487 | $2,018.73 | $25.15 | - |
| Step 8 | $53,767 | $2,067.96 | $25.76 | - |
| Step 9 | $55,047 | $2,117.19 | $26.38 | - |
| Step 10 | $56,327 | $2,166.42 | $26.99 | - |
What kind of role is GL-6?
Typical role. Experienced officers or investigators with more responsibility, case complexity or patrol authority.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-5 level.
Career progression. A GL-6 employee is commonly next considered for GL-7 or GL-8 promotion.
Step progression for GL-6
GL-6 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-6 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-6 Step 1 | GL-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $65,571 | $82,429 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $61,811 | $77,703 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $61,148 | $76,869 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $60,489 | $76,041 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $60,014 | $75,444 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $59,916 | $75,320 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $59,405 | $74,678 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $59,307 | $74,554 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $59,181 | $74,397 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $58,953 | $74,109 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $58,634 | $73,710 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $58,482 | $73,518 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $58,142 | $73,090 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $57,855 | $72,729 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $57,797 | $72,656 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $57,183 | $71,885 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $57,021 | $71,682 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $56,515 | $71,045 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $55,861 | $70,223 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $55,467 | $69,727 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $54,866 | $68,972 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $54,853 | $68,956 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $54,848 | $68,950 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $54,790 | $68,877 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $54,772 | $68,854 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $54,768 | $68,848 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $54,759 | $68,837 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $54,732 | $68,803 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $54,633 | $68,680 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $54,624 | $68,668 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $54,481 | $68,488 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $54,405 | $68,392 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $54,230 | $68,173 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $54,113 | $68,026 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $53,925 | $67,790 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $53,836 | $67,677 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $53,782 | $67,609 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $53,621 | $67,407 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $53,576 | $67,350 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $53,522 | $67,283 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $53,513 | $67,271 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $53,446 | $67,187 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $53,307 | $67,012 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $53,289 | $66,990 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $53,231 | $66,916 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $53,222 | $66,905 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $53,020 | $66,652 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $52,980 | $66,601 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $52,975 | $66,595 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $52,939 | $66,550 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $52,877 | $66,471 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $52,841 | $66,426 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $52,818 | $66,398 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $52,724 | $66,280 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $52,715 | $66,269 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $52,706 | $66,257 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $52,657 | $66,195 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $52,451 | $65,936 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $44,807 | $56,327 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-6
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-6 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-6 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-6 in 2025 is $44,807 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-6 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-6 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-6 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.