GS-12 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$102,415 – $133,142 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-12 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-12 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $102,415 | $8,535 | $3,939 | $49.07 | $76,463 | +$25,952 |
| Step 2 | $105,829 | $8,819 | $4,070 | $50.71 | $79,012 | +$26,817 |
| Step 3 | $109,243 | $9,104 | $4,202 | $52.34 | $81,561 | +$27,682 |
| Step 4 | $112,657 | $9,388 | $4,333 | $53.98 | $84,110 | +$28,547 |
| Step 5 | $116,071 | $9,673 | $4,464 | $55.62 | $86,659 | +$29,412 |
| Step 6 | $119,485 | $9,957 | $4,596 | $57.25 | $89,208 | +$30,277 |
| Step 7 | $122,899 | $10,242 | $4,727 | $58.89 | $91,757 | +$31,142 |
| Step 8 | $126,313 | $10,526 | $4,858 | $60.52 | $94,306 | +$32,007 |
| Step 9 | $129,728 | $10,811 | $4,990 | $62.16 | $96,855 | +$32,873 |
| Step 10 | $133,142 | $11,095 | $5,121 | $63.80 | $99,404 | +$33,738 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-12 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-11 to GS-12 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $19,234 per year.
GS-12 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-12 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $102,415 and $133,142 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-12 base pay of $76,463 to $99,404.
The Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area covers District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. At Step 5, a GS-12 employee here earns $14,628 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-12 Step 1 in this area is $3,939, or approximately $49.07 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
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