GS-13 is the grade where federal careers get serious. The base salary starts at $87,758 and tops out at $114,082. But base pay only tells half the story. Your actual paycheck depends on where you live.

A GS-13 in Washington, DC makes over $115,000 at Step 1. That same Step 1 in Houston pays about $106,000. And in a small town with no locality pay? You get the base rate. The grade is the same. The job is the same. But the paycheck changes based on location.

I spent 1.5 years after separating from the Navy with zero callbacks on federal jobs. Once I cracked the code, I went on to get hired into six different federal career fields. The pay differences between locations shaped every move I made. This guide breaks down exactly what GS-13 pays in 2026, by step and by location, so you can plan your next move with real numbers.

What Is the GS-13 Base Pay for All 10 Steps?

The General Schedule has 10 steps within each grade. You start at Step 1 and move up based on time in service. Each step bump adds about 3% to your pay. Here is the full 2026 GS-13 base pay table from OPM.

Step increases follow a set schedule. Steps 1 through 3 happen every year. Steps 4 through 6 happen every two years. Steps 7 through 10 happen every three years. So reaching Step 10 takes about 18 years from Step 1.

These base numbers come from the OPM 2026 General Schedule tables. OPM updates pay tables each January based on the cost-of-living raise Congress approves the prior year. For the most current numbers, check OPM.gov pay tables directly.

How Does Locality Pay Change Your GS-13 Salary?

Locality pay is the adjustment OPM adds based on where your duty station is located. It exists because $87,758 in rural Alabama buys a lot more than $87,758 in San Francisco. The federal government uses locality pay to keep salaries competitive with private-sector wages in each area.

There are over 50 locality pay areas. Each one has a different percentage added to your base pay. The "Rest of US" rate covers areas that do not have their own locality zone. Here is what GS-13 Step 1 looks like in major veteran-heavy metro areas.

The gap between San Francisco and "Rest of US" at Step 10 is over $30,000. That is the same job at the same grade and same step. Location is the single biggest variable in your GS-13 salary.

For a full breakdown of how the GS system works across all grades, see our federal GS pay scale guide.

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How Does GS-13 Compare to Military Pay?

Veterans always want to know: how does GS-13 stack up against what I made on active duty? GS-13 typically matches or beats what an O-4 or senior E-8 takes home. But the comparison is tricky. Military pay includes BAH, BAS, and tax-free allowances. Federal civilian pay does not.

Here is a rough side-by-side for context.

The numbers look close. But remember that BAH and BAS are tax-free. A GS-13 salary is fully taxable. So the actual take-home gap can be larger than the raw numbers suggest, depending on your tax bracket and filing status.

For a deeper look at how GS-13 maps to military rank, check our GS-13 equivalent military rank guide.

If you are a military retiree, you may also be able to collect your pension on top of your GS salary. There are rules around federal dual compensation for military retirees that you should read before assuming you get both full amounts.

What Qualifications Do You Need for GS-13?

GS-13 positions require one year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level. There is no education shortcut at this grade. You cannot substitute a masters degree or PhD for the experience requirement. The only way in is proving you did the work.

Specialized experience means you have done tasks directly related to the job you are applying for. For example, a GS-13 Program Analyst position might require experience managing budgets over $5 million, leading cross-functional teams, and presenting findings to senior leadership.

Here is what OPM typically requires at GS-13.

• Time in grade: One year at GS-12 (or equivalent) if you are a current federal employee. Veterans entering from outside federal service can sometimes qualify based on equivalent private-sector or military experience.
• Specialized experience: 52 weeks of work at the next lower grade that gave you the skills for the target job.
• Education: Not a substitute at GS-13. Some agencies accept education for lower grades, but GS-13 requires hands-on experience.
• Security clearance: Many GS-13 positions in DoD, DHS, and intelligence agencies require a Secret or Top Secret clearance. Having an active clearance from military service gives you a big advantage.

For veterans with 10 or more years of leadership, you likely have the experience. The challenge is translating it into federal resume language. The job announcement spells out exactly what specialized experience means for each position. Match your resume bullets to those requirements word for word.

If you are currently at GS-11 and want to reach GS-13, we have a step-by-step playbook: jumping from GS-11 to GS-13.

Which Federal Agencies Hire the Most GS-13 Positions?

Not all agencies hire GS-13s equally. Some agencies are packed with mid-level and senior positions. Others cap out at GS-12 for most roles. If you want GS-13, target the agencies that have the volume.

Here are the agencies with the highest number of GS-13 positions based on OPM FedScope data.

• Department of Defense (DoD): The largest federal employer. Program analysts, contract specialists, logistics managers, and IT specialists at GS-13 are everywhere across Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense agencies.
• Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): Administrative roles, health care administrators, and program managers. The VA is one of the fastest-growing federal employers.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS): CBP, ICE, TSA, FEMA, and CISA all have GS-13 supervisory and analytical positions.
• Department of Justice (DOJ): Investigative analysts, program managers, and administrative officers.
• Department of the Treasury: IRS, FinCEN, and the Mint hire GS-13 analysts and auditors.
• Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Program analysts, grants management specialists, and public health advisors.

For veterans, DoD is often the easiest landing spot. You already know the culture, the acronyms, and how the mission works. Many DoD civilian positions also offer veterans preference, which helps your application surface higher in the hiring process.

What Are the Best Job Series at GS-13 for Veterans?

Job series tells you the type of work. GS-13 is available across dozens of series, but some are more common and more veteran-friendly than others. Here are the series where veterans tend to land GS-13 positions most often.

• 0343 Management Analyst: One of the most common GS-13 series. You analyze operations, recommend improvements, and manage programs. See our 0343 pay scale guide for salary details.
• 1102 Contract Specialist: If you touched contracts in the military, this is a natural fit. GS-13 contract specialists manage multi-million dollar acquisitions.
• 2210 IT Management: Signal, cyber, and comms veterans land here. Every agency needs IT program managers.
• 0346 Logistics Management: Supply and logistics NCOs and officers move into this series. GS-13 logistics managers oversee entire supply chains.
• 1801 General Inspection: Inspector General offices, compliance, and oversight roles.
• 0301 Miscellaneous Administration: A broad series that covers program management, policy analysis, and administrative leadership.

The key is matching your military experience to the right series. A 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist) maps well to 0346. A 25B (Information Technology Specialist) maps to 2210. Use BMR's military-to-civilian jobs tool to find your best federal series matches.

How Fast Can You Reach GS-13 After Separating?

This depends on where you enter the federal system. There are a few common paths veterans take.

The direct hire path is why your federal resume matters so much. From the hiring side of the table, I saw veterans with strong experience get passed over. Their resumes did not match the announcement language. Your experience is there. The resume just has to prove it.

Our federal resume builder helps you translate military experience into the exact format and keywords federal hiring managers look for.

What Benefits Come With a GS-13 Position?

Salary is just one piece. GS-13 federal employees get a benefits package that adds real value on top of the paycheck. Here is what the total compensation picture looks like.

• FEHB health insurance: The government pays about 72% of your health plan premium. You pick from dozens of plans. Coverage starts on day one for most hires.
• TSP retirement: This works like a 401(k). The government automatically contributes 1% and matches up to 4% more. That is 5% free money on your salary.
• FERS pension: After 5 years of service, you earn a pension. It is 1% of your high-3 salary per year of service. At 20 years, that is 20% of your average salary paid to you every year in retirement.
• Annual leave: Veterans get credit for military service toward leave accrual. Many vets start with 6 hours per pay period (about 20 days per year) right away because of their military time.
• Sick leave: 4 hours per pay period, no cap on how much you can save up.
• 11 paid federal holidays per year.
• Student loan repayment: Some agencies offer up to $10,000 per year toward student loans.
• Telework: Many GS-13 positions now offer 2 to 4 days of telework per week, depending on the agency and role.

Add TSP matching, pension accrual, and health insurance subsidies to a GS-13 Step 5 in DC ($133,216). The total compensation value is well over $160,000. That is competitive with many private-sector management positions, and the job stability is hard to beat.

How to Negotiate Your Starting Step as a GS-13

Most people do not know this, but you can ask for a higher starting step. Agencies can approve a step increase when they hire you if you can show that your pay or experience justifies it. This is called a Superior Qualifications Appointment or a Special Needs Pay Setting.

Here is how it works in practice.

• Show your current or recent pay. If you earned $120,000 in the private sector, the agency can justify a higher step. Total military compensation near that level works too. Steps 3, 4, or higher are all possible.
• Ask during the tentative offer. The time to negotiate is after you get the offer but before you accept. Most HR offices expect this request from experienced hires.
• Put it in writing. Provide pay stubs, an LES, or an offer letter from a competing employer. The hiring manager takes your request to HR, and HR makes the decision based on agency policy.
• Know the limits. Most agencies can go up to Step 10 for superior qualifications, but Steps 4 through 7 are the most common approvals.

The difference between Step 1 and Step 5 at GS-13 in DC is about $15,600 per year. Over five years at that grade, starting at Step 5 puts an extra $78,000 in your pocket. That is compared to starting at Step 1. It is worth asking. For a complete walkthrough of the negotiation process, including what to say and what documentation to provide, read our guide on how to negotiate your GS level on a federal job offer.

What Comes After GS-13?

GS-13 is not the ceiling. From here, you have clear paths up.

GS-14: Most GS-14 positions are supervisory or senior technical roles. You need one year at GS-13 to qualify. Many agencies have GS-13/14 ladder positions where the promotion happens without reapplying. Read our GS-14 equivalent military rank guide for what to expect.

GS-15: The highest grade on the General Schedule before SES. GS-15 positions are typically branch chiefs, division directors, or senior advisors. Base pay at GS-15 Step 10 is $157,082 before locality. In DC, that pushes over $210,000.

Senior Executive Service (SES): Above GS-15. SES members are the top federal leaders. Pay ranges from about $147,000 to over $230,000. Getting into SES requires executive core qualifications and a separate application process.

For most veterans, GS-13 is the sweet spot. The pay is strong. The work is meaningful. And from GS-13, every door above is open if you want to keep climbing.

If you want to see how the GS scale compares to Wage Grade (WG) trades positions, check our WG vs GS pay comparison.

What to Do Next

You know what GS-13 pays. You know where the money is best. Now the question is whether your resume can get you there.

Federal hiring managers look for specific things. Your resume needs to show specialized experience that matches the job announcement. It needs hours per week, supervisor names, and detailed duty descriptions. And it needs to be two pages max.

Building a federal resume from scratch? Updating one for a GS-13 position? BMR's federal resume builder handles the formatting and keyword matching. Paste the job posting in, and it builds a resume tailored to that specific announcement. Over 17,500 veterans and military spouses have used it so far.

For veterans who want to understand how their military rank maps to the GS system, start with our GS-13 equivalent military rank breakdown. And for proving you meet the experience bar, read our guide on USAJobs specialized experience.

The federal pay system rewards people who plan ahead. Pick your location. Target the right series. Write a resume that proves your experience. The money follows.