GS-13 pay scale 2026 by step and locality
The grade of senior specialists, team leads and many first-line supervisors. Choose your county to see your step and the next one.
GS-13 step 1, Washington DC, 2026
$121,785
Base $90,925 plus 33.94 % locality pay.
| Base pay (GS table) | $90,925 |
| Locality payment, Washington DC | $30,860 |
| Hourly rate | $58.35 |
| Biweekly paycheck (gross, 80 hours) | $4,668.00 |
| Same cell in 2025 | $120,579 (+$1,206) |
| Next step (52 weeks in step) | +$4,060 |
Prepared by Radif Partners · How the figures are built · 2026 OPM tables, rebuilt cell by cell
GS-13 is where many federal careers settle for good: senior specialists, technical experts, team leaders and a share of first-line supervisors, often reached by a competitive announcement after several years at GS-12. In 2026 the base rate runs from $90,925 at step 1 to $118,204 at step 10. Locality lifts step 1 to $106,437 in Rest of U.S., $120,548 in Boston and $121,785 in the Washington area, where step 10 pays $158,322. Every GS-13 hourly rate is above the GS-10 step 1 line, so FLSA-exempt overtime is paid at straight time: $51.00 an hour at step 1 in Rest of U.S., the same as a regular hour. Because many employees spend their last years at GS-13, its upper steps often make the FERS high-3: three years at steps 8, 9 and 10 in Washington average $154,263, and 30 years of service at the MRA turn that into about $46,279 a year before any survivor election.
The work behind a GS-13
A GS-13 position usually means you are the person others come to: a specialist trusted with the hardest cases of your field, or an analyst who writes guidance rather than applies it. Some positions add the lead of a small team; others are first-line supervisory jobs in field offices. Few career ladders reach GS-13 on their own, so the step from GS-12 is often a competitive selection, and the specialized experience asked for is one year at the GS-12 level.
A GS-12 step 6 in Rest of U.S. who is selected moves from $104,427 to GS-13 step 3, $113,533, a gain of $9,106. Until January 18, 2027 a GS-12 needs 52 weeks in grade first. OPM's October 19, 2026 final rule removes that wait from January 19, 2027; the experience requirement of the qualification standard does not change.
Overtime at GS-13 is straight time
Overtime for FLSA-exempt employees is capped at 1.5 times the hourly rate of GS-10 step 1 of your area, or your own hourly rate if that is higher. At GS-13 your own rate is always higher, at every step and in every area, so an hour of overtime pays the same as a regular hour. Paid overtime still raises your gross pay for the period, but it never counts toward the high-3. Employees still covered by the FLSA follow its own overtime rules.
Your pension built on GS-13 pay
FERS uses your highest three consecutive years of basic pay, locality included, with no overtime or awards. Take an employee born in 1970 who retires at the MRA of 57 with 30 years and three final years at GS-13 steps 8, 9 and 10 in the Washington area. The high-3 is $154,263; at 1 % per year of service the basic annuity is $46,279 a year, or $3,856 a month, before the survivor election and before the FERS supplement paid until 62. A step increase that lands in those final years raises the pension for life, which is why the timing of your last within-grade increase is worth checking.
Your GS-13 high-3 from your step and area
Estimated high-3
$151,710
| Pay now | $150,203 |
| Pay in your last year | $153,222 |
| Annuity per year of service (1 %) | $1,517 |
Looking toward GS-14
A GS-13 step 4 in Washington promoted to GS-14 moves from $133,964 to GS-14 step 1, $143,913. GS-13 is still below the $197,200 cap everywhere: step 10 in San Francisco pays $172,980. The high-3 guide and the FERS calculator take the estimate further.
GS-13 in all 58 locality areas
| Locality area | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | $133,060 | $150,802 | $172,980 |
| New York | $125,431 | $142,156 | $163,062 |
| Los Angeles | $124,085 | $140,631 | $161,313 |
| Houston | $122,749 | $139,116 | $159,575 |
| Washington DC | $121,785 | $138,024 | $158,322 |
| San Diego | $121,585 | $137,797 | $158,062 |
| Boston | $120,548 | $136,622 | $156,715 |
| Alaska | $120,348 | $136,396 | $156,455 |
| Hartford | $120,094 | $136,107 | $156,124 |
| Seattle | $119,630 | $135,582 | $155,521 |
| Chicago | $118,984 | $134,850 | $154,682 |
| Denver | $118,675 | $134,500 | $154,280 |
| Sacramento | $117,984 | $133,716 | $153,382 |
| Detroit | $117,402 | $133,057 | $152,625 |
| Philadelphia | $117,284 | $132,923 | $152,471 |
| Minneapolis | $116,038 | $131,511 | $150,852 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $115,711 | $131,140 | $150,426 |
| Portland | $114,684 | $129,976 | $149,091 |
| Miami | $113,356 | $128,471 | $147,365 |
| Atlanta | $112,556 | $127,564 | $146,325 |
| Phoenix | $111,338 | $126,184 | $144,741 |
| Milwaukee | $111,310 | $126,153 | $144,705 |
| Buffalo | $111,301 | $126,142 | $144,694 |
| Richmond | $111,183 | $126,008 | $144,540 |
| Raleigh | $111,147 | $125,967 | $144,493 |
| Cleveland | $111,138 | $125,957 | $144,481 |
| Hawaii | $111,119 | $125,936 | $144,457 |
| Columbus | $111,065 | $125,874 | $144,386 |
| Cincinnati | $110,865 | $125,648 | $144,126 |
| Huntsville | $110,847 | $125,627 | $144,102 |
| Laredo | $110,556 | $125,297 | $143,724 |
| Dayton | $110,401 | $125,122 | $143,523 |
| Pittsburgh | $110,047 | $124,720 | $143,062 |
| Albany | $109,810 | $124,452 | $142,755 |
| Austin | $109,428 | $124,019 | $142,259 |
| Colorado Springs | $109,246 | $123,813 | $142,022 |
| St. Louis | $109,137 | $123,690 | $141,880 |
| Charlotte | $108,810 | $123,319 | $141,455 |
| Las Vegas | $108,719 | $123,216 | $141,337 |
| Burlington | $108,610 | $123,092 | $141,195 |
| Harrisburg | $108,592 | $123,071 | $141,171 |
| Tucson | $108,455 | $122,917 | $140,994 |
| Kansas City | $108,173 | $122,597 | $140,627 |
| Davenport | $108,137 | $122,556 | $140,580 |
| Virginia Beach | $108,019 | $122,422 | $140,426 |
| San Antonio | $108,001 | $122,402 | $140,403 |
| Albuquerque | $107,592 | $121,938 | $139,871 |
| Birmingham | $107,510 | $121,845 | $139,764 |
| Omaha | $107,501 | $121,835 | $139,753 |
| Indianapolis | $107,428 | $121,752 | $139,658 |
| Des Moines | $107,301 | $121,608 | $139,493 |
| Palm Bay | $107,228 | $121,526 | $139,398 |
| Rochester | $107,182 | $121,474 | $139,339 |
| Spokane | $106,991 | $121,258 | $139,091 |
| Fresno | $106,973 | $121,237 | $139,067 |
| Corpus Christi | $106,955 | $121,217 | $139,043 |
| Reno | $106,855 | $121,103 | $138,913 |
| Rest of U.S. | $106,437 | $120,629 | $138,370 |