GS-15 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$169,287 – $197,200 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-15 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-15 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $169,287 | $14,107 | $6,511 | $81.11 | $126,390 | +$42,897 |
| Step 2 | $174,930 | $14,578 | $6,728 | $83.82 | $130,603 | +$44,327 |
| Step 3 | $180,573 | $15,048 | $6,945 | $86.52 | $134,816 | +$45,757 |
| Step 4 | $186,215 | $15,518 | $7,162 | $89.23 | $139,029 | +$47,186 |
| Step 5 | $191,858 | $15,988 | $7,379 | $91.93 | $143,242 | +$48,616 |
| 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 Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-15 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $28,759 per year.
GS-15 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-15 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $169,287 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.
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-15 employee here earns $24,179 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-15 Step 1 in this area is $6,511, or approximately $81.11 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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