GS-15 Pay in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

$170,146 โ€“ $197,200 per year • 34.62% locality adjustment

2026 rates • $25,153 more than Rest of US at Step 5

GS-15 Salary Summary โ€” Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

Entry (Step 1) $170,146/yr $6,544 biweekly
Mid (Step 5) $192,832/yr $7,417 biweekly
Top (Step 10) $197,200/yr $7,585 biweekly
Locality Adj. +34.62% +$49,590 at Step 5

Complete GS-15 Pay Table โ€” Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (2026)

Step Annual Monthly Biweekly Hourly Base Pay Locality Add
Step 1 $170,146 $14,179 $6,544 $81.53 $126,390 +$43,756
Step 2 $175,818 $14,652 $6,762 $84.24 $130,603 +$45,215
Step 3 $181,489 $15,124 $6,980 $86.96 $134,816 +$46,673
Step 4 $187,161 $15,597 $7,199 $89.68 $139,029 +$48,132
Step 5 $192,832 $16,069 $7,417 $92.40 $143,242 +$49,590
Step 6 $197,200* $16,433 $7,585 $94.49 $147,455 +$49,745
Step 7 $197,200* $16,433 $7,585 $94.49 $151,668 +$45,532
Step 8 $197,200* $16,433 $7,585 $94.49 $155,881 +$41,319
Step 9 $197,200* $16,433 $7,585 $94.49 $160,094 +$37,106
Step 10 $197,200* $16,433 $7,585 $94.49 $164,307 +$32,893

* Salary capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200). Actual calculated salary exceeds this cap.

Compare Nearby Grades in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

How does GS-15 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?

GS-14
$163,927
GS-15
$192,832

Promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 at Step 5 in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA is a raise of $28,905 per year.

GS-15 Federal Jobs in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA

Federal employees at GS-15 in the Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA locality area earn between $170,146 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 34.62% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.

The Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA locality area covers California. At Step 5, a GS-15 employee here earns $25,153 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, Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA 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-15 Step 1 in this area is $6,544, or approximately $81.53 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance โ€” it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.

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