GS-15 Pay in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
$165,103 – $197,200 per year • 30.63% locality adjustment
GS-15 Salary Summary — San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Complete GS-15 Pay Table — San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $165,103 | $13,759 | $6,350 | $79.11 | $126,390 | +$38,713 |
| Step 2 | $170,607 | $14,217 | $6,562 | $81.75 | $130,603 | +$40,004 |
| Step 3 | $176,110 | $14,676 | $6,773 | $84.38 | $134,816 | +$41,294 |
| Step 4 | $181,614 | $15,135 | $6,985 | $87.02 | $139,029 | +$42,585 |
| Step 5 | $187,117 | $15,593 | $7,197 | $89.66 | $143,242 | +$43,875 |
| Step 6 | $192,620 | $16,052 | $7,408 | $92.30 | $147,455 | +$45,165 |
| 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 San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
How does GS-15 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 at Step 5 in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA is a raise of $28,049 per year.
GS-15 Federal Jobs in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
Federal employees at GS-15 in the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA locality area earn between $165,103 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 30.63% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.
The San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA locality area covers California. At Step 5, a GS-15 employee here earns $19,438 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, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, 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 $6,350, or approximately $79.11 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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