2025 GL-7 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-7 runs from $48,371 at Step 1 to $61,178 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 2025 GL-7 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-7.
$48,371 GL-7 Step 1 base salary
$61,178 GL-7 Step 10 base salary
Staff Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-7 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-7 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 | $48,371 | $1,860.42 | $23.18 | - |
| Step 2 | $49,794 | $1,915.15 | $23.86 | - |
| Step 3 | $51,217 | $1,969.88 | $24.54 | - |
| Step 4 | $52,640 | $2,024.62 | $25.22 | - |
| Step 5 | $54,063 | $2,079.35 | $25.90 | - |
| Step 6 | $55,486 | $2,134.08 | $26.59 | - |
| Step 7 | $56,909 | $2,188.81 | $27.27 | - |
| Step 8 | $58,332 | $2,243.54 | $27.95 | - |
| Step 9 | $59,755 | $2,298.27 | $28.63 | - |
| Step 10 | $61,178 | $2,353.00 | $29.31 | - |
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 2025. 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 | 46.34% | $70,786 | $89,528 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $66,728 | $84,395 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $66,012 | $83,490 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $65,301 | $82,590 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $64,788 | $81,942 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $64,682 | $81,807 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $64,130 | $81,110 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $64,024 | $80,975 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $63,888 | $80,804 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $63,642 | $80,492 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $63,298 | $80,058 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $63,134 | $79,850 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $62,766 | $79,385 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $62,457 | $78,993 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $62,394 | $78,914 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $61,731 | $78,075 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $61,557 | $77,855 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $61,010 | $77,164 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $60,304 | $76,271 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $59,878 | $75,732 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $59,230 | $74,912 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $59,216 | $74,894 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $59,211 | $74,888 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $59,148 | $74,808 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $59,129 | $74,784 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $59,124 | $74,778 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $59,114 | $74,766 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $59,085 | $74,729 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $58,979 | $74,594 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $58,969 | $74,582 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $58,814 | $74,386 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $58,732 | $74,282 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $58,543 | $74,044 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $58,418 | $73,885 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $58,214 | $73,628 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $58,118 | $73,505 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $58,060 | $73,432 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $57,886 | $73,212 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $57,837 | $73,151 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $57,779 | $73,077 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $57,769 | $73,065 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $57,697 | $72,973 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $57,547 | $72,783 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $57,528 | $72,759 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $57,465 | $72,679 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $57,455 | $72,667 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $57,237 | $72,392 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $57,194 | $72,337 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $57,189 | $72,331 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $57,150 | $72,282 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $57,083 | $72,196 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $57,044 | $72,147 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $57,020 | $72,117 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $56,918 | $71,988 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $56,908 | $71,976 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $56,899 | $71,964 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $56,846 | $71,896 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $56,623 | $71,615 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $48,371 | $61,178 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-7
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-7 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-7 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-7 in 2025 is $48,371 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.