Cross-country comparison
R6 (Germany) vs GS-12 (United States)
Germany · Bundesbesoldungsgesetz (BBesG)
R6
Besoldungsordnung R6 — Vizepräsident at a federal court.
136.472 € – 136.472 €
FY 2026 · annual base · EUR
View full R6 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 R6 in the Germany federal civil service earns between 136.472 € and 136.472 € 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.