GS-6 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$51,961 – $67,547 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-6 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-6 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $51,961 | $4,330 | $1,999 | $24.90 | $38,794 | +$13,167 |
| Step 2 | $53,693 | $4,474 | $2,065 | $25.73 | $40,087 | +$13,606 |
| Step 3 | $55,424 | $4,619 | $2,132 | $26.56 | $41,380 | +$14,044 |
| Step 4 | $57,156 | $4,763 | $2,198 | $27.39 | $42,673 | +$14,483 |
| Step 5 | $58,888 | $4,907 | $2,265 | $28.22 | $43,966 | +$14,922 |
| Step 6 | $60,620 | $5,052 | $2,332 | $29.05 | $45,259 | +$15,361 |
| Step 7 | $62,352 | $5,196 | $2,398 | $29.88 | $46,552 | +$15,800 |
| Step 8 | $64,084 | $5,340 | $2,465 | $30.71 | $47,845 | +$16,239 |
| Step 9 | $65,815 | $5,485 | $2,531 | $31.54 | $49,138 | +$16,677 |
| Step 10 | $67,547 | $5,629 | $2,598 | $32.37 | $50,431 | +$17,116 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-6 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-5 to GS-6 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $6,063 per year.
GS-6 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-6 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $51,961 and $67,547 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-6 base pay of $38,794 to $50,431.
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-6 employee here earns $7,421 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-6 Step 1 in this area is $1,999, or approximately $24.90 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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