The pay scale for a GS 13 in 2024 ranges from $88,520 for Step 1 to $115,079 for Step 10.
2024 General Schedule (GS) 13 Pay Scale Overview
The General Schedule (GS) is the primary pay system for most white-collar federal employees in the United States. It comprises 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15), with each grade having 10 steps. The pay for a GS 13 position varies based on the step within that grade.
The base pay for a GS 13 in 2024 is structured as follows:
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | $88,520 | $115,079 |
Understanding GS Pay Steps
- Steps 1 through 10: Each GS grade has ten steps, representing increments of pay. Employees typically start at Step 1 for a given grade unless they have prior federal experience or special qualifications that warrant a higher initial step.
- Step Increases: Step increases are awarded to employees who meet performance standards and have completed the required waiting period for their current step. These increases are generally automatic for satisfactory performance:
- Steps 1 to 4: 52 weeks (1 year)
- Steps 4 to 7: 104 weeks (2 years)
- Steps 7 to 10: 156 weeks (3 years)
- Experience and Performance: Moving from Step 1 to Step 10 within a grade reflects increased experience, tenure, and sustained satisfactory performance within that position.
Locality Pay Consideration
It's important to note that the figures provided above represent the base pay for the GS scale. The actual take-home pay for federal employees can be significantly higher due to locality pay. Locality pay is an additional percentage added to the base salary, designed to adjust for differences in the cost of living across various geographic regions in the U.S.
For example, a GS 13 employee working in a high-cost-of-living area like the Washington D.C. metropolitan area would receive a higher total salary than a GS 13 employee with the same step in a lower-cost area, even though their base pay is identical. To find specific locality pay rates for different areas, you can refer to detailed GS pay tables available from official federal resources.
For more comprehensive information on General Schedule pay scales and locality adjustments, you can visit resources like Federal Jobs Salary Base.
