GS-12 Pay Scale 2026

GS-12 base pay in 2026 runs from $76,463 at step 1 to $99,404 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $89,508 (Rest of U.S.) to $111,896 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $116,362 (Rest of U.S.) to $145,468 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). New to the table? See how to read the GS pay scale or use the GS pay calculator for your own grade, step and locality.

Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources

GS-12 pay by step

Base pay and the Rest of U.S. rate at each step, with hourly and biweekly pay and the wait for the next step.

GS-12 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$76,463$89,508$42.89$3,431.2052 weeks
Step 2$79,012+$2,549$92,491$44.32$3,545.6052 weeks
Step 3$81,561+$2,549$95,475$45.75$3,660.0052 weeks
Step 4$84,110+$2,549$98,459$47.18$3,774.40104 weeks
Step 5$86,659+$2,549$101,443$48.61$3,888.80104 weeks
Step 6$89,208+$2,549$104,427$50.04$4,003.20104 weeks
Step 7$91,757+$2,549$107,411$51.47$4,117.60156 weeks
Step 8$94,306+$2,549$110,395$52.90$4,232.00156 weeks
Step 9$96,855+$2,549$113,378$54.33$4,346.40156 weeks
Step 10$99,404+$2,549$116,362$55.76$4,460.80Top step

GS-12 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($76,463) to step 10 ($99,404).
  • GS-13 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($106,437) is $9,925 below GS-12 step 10 ($116,362).
  • 11 of 58 areas pay GS-12 $100,000 or more at step 1, and 58 at step 10.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $22,388 at step 1 and $29,106 at step 10.
  • No GS-12 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $145,468 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-12 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $89,508 (Rest of U.S.) to $111,896 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $116,362 (Rest of U.S.) to $145,468 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-12 pay by locality

Annual pay in all 58 locality pay areas, highest locality percentage first. An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap.

GS-12 annual pay at step 1 and step 10 in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaLocality %Step 1Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA46.34%$111,896$145,468
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$105,481$137,128
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$104,349$135,657
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$103,225$134,195
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$102,415$133,142
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$102,246$132,923
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$101,375$131,790
State of Alaska32.36%$101,206$131,571
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$100,992$131,293
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$100,602$130,786
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$100,059$130,080
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$99,800$129,742
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$99,218$128,987
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$98,729$128,350
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$98,630$128,221
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$97,582$126,859
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$97,307$126,502
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$96,443$125,378
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$95,326$123,927
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$94,654$123,052
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$93,629$121,720
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$93,606$121,690
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$93,598$121,680
Richmond, VA22.28%$93,499$121,551
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$93,468$121,511
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$93,461$121,502
State of Hawaii22.21%$93,445$121,482
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$93,400$121,422
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$93,231$121,203
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$93,216$121,183
Laredo, TX21.59%$92,971$120,865
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$92,841$120,696
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$92,543$120,309
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$92,344$120,050
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$92,023$119,633
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$91,870$119,434
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$91,779$119,315
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$91,503$118,957
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$91,427$118,857
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$91,335$118,738
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$91,320$118,718
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$91,205$118,569
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$90,968$118,261
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$90,937$118,221
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$90,838$118,092
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$90,823$118,072
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$90,479$117,625
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$90,410$117,535
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$90,402$117,525
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$90,341$117,446
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$90,234$117,307
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$90,173$117,227
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$90,135$117,177
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$89,974$116,969
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$89,959$116,949
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$89,943$116,929
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$89,859$116,820
Rest of U.S.17.06%$89,508$116,362
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-12 annual pay at every step in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$111,896$115,626$119,356$123,087$126,817$130,547$134,277$138,007$141,738$145,468
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$105,481$108,997$112,513$116,030$119,546$123,062$126,579$130,095$133,611$137,128
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$104,349$107,828$111,306$114,785$118,264$121,742$125,221$128,699$132,178$135,657
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$103,225$106,666$110,107$113,549$116,990$120,431$123,872$127,313$130,754$134,195
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$102,415$105,829$109,243$112,657$116,071$119,485$122,899$126,313$129,728$133,142
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$102,246$105,655$109,063$112,472$115,880$119,289$122,697$126,106$129,515$132,923
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$101,375$104,754$108,134$111,513$114,893$118,272$121,651$125,031$128,410$131,790
State of Alaska$101,206$104,580$107,954$111,328$114,702$118,076$121,450$124,823$128,197$131,571
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$100,992$104,359$107,726$111,092$114,459$117,826$121,193$124,559$127,926$131,293
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$100,602$103,956$107,310$110,664$114,017$117,371$120,725$124,078$127,432$130,786
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$100,059$103,395$106,731$110,066$113,402$116,738$120,073$123,409$126,744$130,080
Denver-Aurora, CO$99,800$103,126$106,453$109,780$113,107$116,434$119,761$123,088$126,415$129,742
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$99,218$102,526$105,834$109,141$112,449$115,756$119,064$122,371$125,679$128,987
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$98,729$102,020$105,312$108,603$111,894$115,185$118,477$121,768$125,059$128,350
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$98,630$101,918$105,206$108,493$111,781$115,069$118,357$121,645$124,933$128,221
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$97,582$100,835$104,088$107,341$110,594$113,847$117,100$120,353$123,606$126,859
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$97,307$100,551$103,795$107,038$110,282$113,526$116,770$120,014$123,258$126,502
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$96,443$99,658$102,873$106,088$109,303$112,518$115,733$118,948$122,163$125,378
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$95,326$98,504$101,682$104,860$108,038$111,216$114,393$117,571$120,749$123,927
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$94,654$97,809$100,964$104,120$107,275$110,431$113,586$116,741$119,897$123,052
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$93,629$96,750$99,871$102,993$106,114$109,235$112,356$115,478$118,599$121,720
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$93,606$96,726$99,847$102,967$106,088$109,208$112,329$115,449$118,570$121,690
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$93,598$96,719$99,839$102,959$106,079$109,200$112,320$115,440$118,560$121,680
Richmond, VA$93,499$96,616$99,733$102,850$105,967$109,084$112,200$115,317$118,434$121,551
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$93,468$96,584$99,700$102,816$105,932$109,048$112,164$115,280$118,396$121,511
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$93,461$96,576$99,692$102,808$105,923$109,039$112,155$115,270$118,386$121,502
State of Hawaii$93,445$96,561$99,676$102,791$105,906$109,021$112,136$115,251$118,366$121,482
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$93,400$96,513$99,627$102,740$105,854$108,968$112,081$115,195$118,308$121,422
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$93,231$96,339$99,447$102,555$105,663$108,771$111,879$114,987$118,095$121,203
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$93,216$96,324$99,431$102,539$105,646$108,753$111,861$114,968$118,076$121,183
Laredo, TX$92,971$96,071$99,170$102,269$105,369$108,468$111,567$114,667$117,766$120,865
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$92,841$95,936$99,031$102,126$105,221$108,316$111,411$114,506$117,601$120,696
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$92,543$95,628$98,713$101,798$104,883$107,968$111,053$114,139$117,224$120,309
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$92,344$95,423$98,501$101,580$104,658$107,737$110,815$113,893$116,972$120,050
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$92,023$95,091$98,159$101,226$104,294$107,362$110,430$113,497$116,565$119,633
Colorado Springs, CO$91,870$94,933$97,996$101,058$104,121$107,183$110,246$113,309$116,371$119,434
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$91,779$94,838$97,898$100,957$104,017$107,076$110,136$113,195$116,255$119,315
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$91,503$94,554$97,604$100,654$103,705$106,755$109,806$112,856$115,906$118,957
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$91,427$94,475$97,522$100,570$103,618$106,666$109,714$112,762$115,810$118,857
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$91,335$94,380$97,425$100,469$103,514$106,559$109,604$112,649$115,693$118,738
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$91,320$94,364$97,408$100,453$103,497$106,541$109,585$112,630$115,674$118,718
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$91,205$94,246$97,286$100,326$103,367$106,407$109,448$112,488$115,529$118,569
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$90,968$94,001$97,033$100,066$103,098$106,131$109,163$112,196$115,228$118,261
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$90,937$93,969$97,000$100,032$103,064$106,095$109,127$112,158$115,190$118,221
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$90,838$93,866$96,894$99,923$102,951$105,979$109,007$112,036$115,064$118,092
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$90,823$93,850$96,878$99,906$102,934$105,961$108,989$112,017$115,044$118,072
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$90,479$93,495$96,511$99,527$102,544$105,560$108,576$111,592$114,609$117,625
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$90,410$93,424$96,438$99,452$102,466$105,480$108,493$111,507$114,521$117,535
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$90,402$93,416$96,430$99,443$102,457$105,471$108,484$111,498$114,512$117,525
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$90,341$93,353$96,364$99,376$102,388$105,399$108,411$111,423$114,434$117,446
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$90,234$93,242$96,250$99,258$102,266$105,274$108,282$111,291$114,299$117,307
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$90,173$93,179$96,185$99,191$102,197$105,203$108,209$111,215$114,221$117,227
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$90,135$93,139$96,144$99,149$102,154$105,158$108,163$111,168$114,173$117,177
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$89,974$92,973$95,973$98,972$101,972$104,971$107,970$110,970$113,969$116,969
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$89,959$92,958$95,957$98,955$101,954$104,953$107,952$110,951$113,950$116,949
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$89,943$92,942$95,940$98,939$101,937$104,935$107,934$110,932$113,931$116,929
Reno-Fernley, NV$89,859$92,855$95,850$98,846$101,842$104,837$107,833$110,828$113,824$116,820
Rest of U.S.$89,508$92,491$95,475$98,459$101,443$104,427$107,411$110,395$113,378$116,362

No GS-12 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-12 hourly and biweekly pay

Hourly and biweekly rates for Rest of U.S., Washington and the largest metro areas, at the first and last step.

GS-12 hourly and biweekly pay in the largest locality pay areas, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1 hourlyStep 1 biweeklyStep 10 hourlyStep 10 biweekly
Rest of U.S.$42.89$3,431.20$55.76$4,460.80
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$49.07$3,925.60$63.80$5,104.00
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$50.54$4,043.20$65.71$5,256.80
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$50.00$4,000.00$65.00$5,200.00
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$47.94$3,835.20$62.33$4,986.40
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$53.62$4,289.60$69.70$5,576.00

GS-12 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $26,854 a year in Rest of U.S. at 2026 rates. Waiting periods follow 5 CFR 531.405; the GS pay calculator dates your own next increase.

GS-12 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$2,549+$2,983
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$2,549+$2,984
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$2,549+$2,983
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$2,549+$2,984

Promotion examples

Examples for a step 5 employee in Rest of U.S. under the two-step promotion rule. Your own result depends on your step, locality and pay history.

  • Into GS-12: GS-11 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($84,638) promoted to GS-12 lands at step 2 ($92,491), a raise of $7,853 a year.
  • Out of GS-12: GS-12 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($101,443) promoted to GS-13 lands at step 2 ($109,985), a raise of $8,542 a year.

GS-12 pay questions

How much does a GS-12 make in 2026?

GS-12 base pay is $76,463 at step 1 and $99,404 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $89,508 to $116,362. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $89,508 (Rest of U.S.) to $111,896 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $116,362 (Rest of U.S.) to $145,468 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-12 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-12 pay is $102,415 at step 1 and $133,142 at step 10, or $49.07 to $63.80 per hour.

How much does a GS-12 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-12 pay there is $111,896 at step 1 and $145,468 at step 10, or $53.62 to $69.70 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-12 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-12 step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks, or 18 years, with three increases after 52 weeks, three after 104 weeks and three after 156 weeks. Base pay rises $2,549 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $26,854 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($89,508 to $116,362).

What is the GS-12 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-12 hourly rate is $42.89 at step 1 and $55.76 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $3,431.20 to $4,460.80 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $49.07 per hour.

Will GS-12 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-12 rates on this page are 2026 only. Step increases are separate from the annual raise. See federal pay raise 2027 for the status.

Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.