What is a grade 11 salary?

A "salary grade 11," often seen as GS-11, refers to a mid-level position in the U.S. Federal Government's General Schedule pay system, requiring specialized skills, often a Master's degree, with pay varying by location and step (experience), generally ranging from around $62k to $80k+ annually in base pay for 2024, with higher figures for locality pay. Outside federal jobs, "Grade 11" salaries differ significantly, averaging around $54k nationally in early 2026, depending heavily on the specific company, industry, and state.

Is GS 11 a good salary?

Yes, a GS-11 salary is generally considered a good, professional-level income, often requiring a bachelor's or advanced degree, but whether it's "good" depends heavily on your location (cost of living), personal financial needs, and the specific step (experience level within the grade), with higher steps and high-cost areas yielding significantly more. It's a solid mid-level federal wage, but some highly skilled GS-11s (especially in STEM) feel it underpays compared to private sector counterparts with similar education, while others find its benefits and stability excellent for supporting a family. 

What is GS 11 pay grade?

The GS-11 pay grade is generally held by white-collar employees in mid-level positions. Starting salary for a GS-11 employee is $62,107.00 per year at Step 1, with a maximum possible base pay of $80,737.00 per year at Step 10.

What does 11 GS mean?

The GS-11 PDs were written as the full-performance level for the career ladder GS-5/7/9/11. The GS-12 PDs were written as a convenience to the field for optional use and to distinguish the work level from the GS-11. As grades increase above GS-11, there is more individuality in the way the work is assigned.

Is level 11 a high pay grade?

While ZipRecruiter is seeing annual salaries as high as $69,000 and as low as $24,500, the majority of Grade 11 salaries currently range between $47,500 (25th percentile) to $60,000 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $64,500 annually across the United States.

Calculating Gross and Net Pay for an Hourly Employee

What is a pay grade 11?

The GS-11 pay grade is generally held by white-collar employees in mid-level positions. Starting salary for a GS-11 employee is $56,983.00 per year at Step 1, with a maximum possible base pay of $74,074.00 per year at Step 10. The hourly base pay of a Step 1 GS-11 employee is $27.30 per hour1.

Is GS 12 a good salary?

Yes, a GS-12 salary is generally considered a very good, comfortable mid-to-upper-level income in the federal system, often representing a stable career point with decent pay (averaging around $100k-$130k+ depending on location) and significant responsibilities, allowing for financial comfort in most areas, though high-cost-of-living areas require careful budgeting. 

What is a grade 11 position?

A GS-11 government job is a position classified under the General Schedule (GS) pay scale at grade 11. It is typically considered a mid-level position requiring specialized experience, a master's degree, or equivalent qualifications.

How much will a GS 11 make in 2025?

How much does a Gs 11 make in California? As of Dec 25, 2025, the average annual pay for a Gs 11 in California is $282,193 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $135.67 an hour. This is the equivalent of $5,426/week or $23,516/month.

Who qualifies for GS-11?

To qualify for jobs at the GS-9 grade (or equivalent) level you need a master's degree, and for the GS-11 grade (or equivalent) level you need a doctoral degree. At these levels, the advanced degree must be directly related to the work of the job you're applying to.

Is $80,000 a good salary for a single person?

$80,000 is about $5,000 higher than the U.S. median household income, so many people would consider it very good for a single person. “Good” is always a relative term when it comes to salary; whether or not the amount you earn covers your expenses is a highly personal dynamic.

Is GS-11 a high rank?

A GS-11 is a mid-level to senior professional position, not typically entry-level, requiring significant education (like a Master's or PhD) or extensive specialized experience, often serving as a full-performance level or a stepping stone to higher grades (GS-12/13). While not the absolute highest (GS-15), it's a respected grade representing substantial responsibility, especially in technical or supervisory roles, with strong earning potential depending on locality. 

What is considered a good starting salary?

A good starting salary varies, but for 2025 college grads, the national average is around $68,000-$70,000, with high-demand fields like Engineering and CS earning more, while factors like location and industry significantly impact the range, from potentially $40k to over $80k+. A truly "good" salary meets your living expenses comfortably, covering bills, savings, and personal spending in your specific area.
 

What is a grade 11 in Canada?

Also known as secondary school, high school begins in grades 8, 9 or 10 through to grade 12 in most Canadian provinces and territories, except Quebec, which starts in grade 7 and ends in grade 11. After successfully completing high school at age 17 or 18, students can go on to college or university.

What is the difference between GS-11 and 12?

Qualification on the basis of education--Applicants for such research positions can be considered qualified for GS-11 if they possess an appropriate master's or equivalent graduate degree, and qualified for GS-12 if they possess a Ph. D. or equivalent doctoral degree.

How do I determine my GS level?

Individuals with a high school diploma and no additional experience typically qualify for GS-2 positions; those with a Bachelor's degree for GS-5 positions; and those with a Master's degree for GS-9 positions.

How much is $70,000 a year hourly?

$70,000 a year is approximately $33.65 per hour, assuming a standard 40-hour workweek (2,080 hours per year), calculated by dividing the annual salary by 2,080 (40 hours x 52 weeks). A simpler estimate uses 2,000 working hours for $35 per hour, but the 2,080 figure is more precise for full-time roles. 

What is $100,000 a year hourly?

$100,000 a year is approximately $48.08 per hour, calculated by dividing the annual salary by the standard 2,080 working hours in a year (40 hours/week x 52 weeks/year). This figure changes if you work more or fewer hours, for instance, 50 hours a week would be about $38.46/hour, while 30 hours would be around $64.10/hour. 

What is the pay scale for the GS-11 in 2025?

A GS-11 Step 5 base pay is $71,583 in 2025. With a 30% locality adjustment, total salary becomes $93,058.

How hard is it to get a GS job?

Competition. Getting a federal job is often very competitive. There are many qualified applicants vying for a few positions. It is important to have excellent qualifications and to stand out from the crowd if you want to land a federal job.

How long does it take to get promoted in GS?

Raises and Bonuses. A step increase is the most common kind of raise for GS employees, and the amount of time between step increases is dependent on the step. As a GS employee, you have to wait one year to increase to a step 2, 3, or 4. You must wait two years before increasing to step 5, 6, or 7.