GS-15 Pay in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
$184,959 – $197,200 per year • 46.34% locality adjustment
GS-15 Salary Summary — San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Complete GS-15 Pay Table — San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $184,959 | $15,413 | $7,114 | $88.62 | $126,390 | +$58,569 |
| Step 2 | $191,124 | $15,927 | $7,351 | $91.58 | $130,603 | +$60,521 |
| Step 3 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $134,816 | +$62,384 |
| Step 4 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $139,029 | +$58,171 |
| Step 5 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $143,242 | +$53,958 |
| 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 San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 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 Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA is a raise of $19,002 per year.
GS-15 Federal Jobs in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA
Federal employees at GS-15 in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA locality area earn between $184,959 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 46.34% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.
The San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA locality area covers California. At Step 5, a GS-15 employee here earns $29,521 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 Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 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 $7,114, or approximately $88.62 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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