Cross-country comparison
A12 (Germany) vs GS-12 (United States)
Germany · Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (BBesG)
A12
Gehobener Dienst — senior upper service; specialist roles and team leads.
52.011 € – 69.780 €
FY 2026 · annual base · EUR
View full A12 detail →United States · General Schedule (GS)
GS-12
Senior specialist and first-line supervisor level. Most common grade for experienced federal professionals.
$76,463 – $99,404
FY 2026 · annual base · USD
View full GS-12 detail →How they compare
A A12 in the Germany federal civil service earns between 52.011 € and 69.780 € per year at base rates, while a GS-12 in the United States federal civil service earns between $76,463 and $99,404. Both figures are annual base in each country’s currency, before locality adjustments, allowances, or bonuses.
Responsibilities at these grades are not directly comparable — each country’s civil service uses its own classification framework. See the linked authoritative sources for role scoping.