GS Pay Scale 2026 Rest of U.S.
The 2026 GS pay scale for Rest of U.S. adds a 17.06% locality payment to General Schedule base pay. Pick a grade and step to see your annual, biweekly and hourly pay, or read the full table below.
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About the GS Pay Scale 2026 Rest of U.S.
Federal employees whose duty station is in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area receive General Schedule base pay plus a locality payment of 17.06% in 2026. Figures on this page are the official OPM salary table for this area.
How to use it
- Choose your GS grade, from GS-1 to GS-15.
- Choose your step, from 1 to 10.
- Read your annual salary in Rest of U.S. with the base pay and locality amounts, plus monthly, biweekly and hourly pay.
2026 GS pay table for Rest of U.S.
Annual salary by grade and step for the Rest of U.S. locality pay area, including the 17.06% locality payment. Effective January 2026.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 26,437 | 27,323 | 28,202 | 29,078 | 29,954 | 30,468 | 31,338 | 32,214 | 32,250 | 33,067 |
| GS-2 | 29,725 | 30,432 | 31,418 | 32,250 | 32,611 | 33,569 | 34,528 | 35,487 | 36,445 | 37,404 |
| GS-3 | 32,435 | 33,517 | 34,598 | 35,680 | 36,762 | 37,843 | 38,925 | 40,006 | 41,088 | 42,170 |
| GS-4 | 36,409 | 37,623 | 38,837 | 40,051 | 41,265 | 42,479 | 43,693 | 44,907 | 46,120 | 47,334 |
| GS-5 | 40,736 | 42,094 | 43,452 | 44,809 | 46,167 | 47,525 | 48,883 | 50,241 | 51,599 | 52,957 |
| GS-6 | 45,409 | 46,922 | 48,436 | 49,950 | 51,463 | 52,977 | 54,490 | 56,004 | 57,517 | 59,031 |
| GS-7 | 50,460 | 52,142 | 53,824 | 55,506 | 57,188 | 58,871 | 60,553 | 62,235 | 63,917 | 65,599 |
| GS-8 | 55,882 | 57,745 | 59,607 | 61,469 | 63,332 | 65,194 | 67,057 | 68,919 | 70,781 | 72,644 |
| GS-9 | 61,722 | 63,780 | 65,838 | 67,896 | 69,954 | 72,012 | 74,070 | 76,128 | 78,186 | 80,243 |
| GS-10 | 67,970 | 70,235 | 72,500 | 74,765 | 77,030 | 79,295 | 81,560 | 83,825 | 86,091 | 88,356 |
| GS-11 | 74,678 | 77,168 | 79,658 | 82,148 | 84,638 | 87,128 | 89,618 | 92,107 | 94,597 | 97,087 |
| GS-12 | 89,508 | 92,491 | 95,475 | 98,459 | 101,443 | 104,427 | 107,411 | 110,395 | 113,378 | 116,362 |
| GS-13 | 106,437 | 109,985 | 113,533 | 117,081 | 120,629 | 124,177 | 127,725 | 131,273 | 134,822 | 138,370 |
| GS-14 | 125,776 | 129,969 | 134,162 | 138,356 | 142,549 | 146,742 | 150,935 | 155,128 | 159,321 | 163,514 |
| GS-15 | 147,945 | 152,877 | 157,809 | 162,740 | 167,672 | 172,604 | 177,536 | 182,467 | 187,399 | 192,331 |
Rest of U.S. GS hourly and biweekly pay
Hourly rate (annual ÷ 2,087) and biweekly gross pay (hourly × 80) at steps 1, 5 and 10:
| Grade | Step 1 hourly | Step 5 hourly | Step 10 hourly | Step 1 biweekly | Step 10 biweekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $12.67 | $14.35 | $15.84 | $1,013.60 | $1,267.20 |
| GS-2 | $14.24 | $15.63 | $17.92 | $1,139.20 | $1,433.60 |
| GS-3 | $15.54 | $17.61 | $20.21 | $1,243.20 | $1,616.80 |
| GS-4 | $17.45 | $19.77 | $22.68 | $1,396.00 | $1,814.40 |
| GS-5 | $19.52 | $22.12 | $25.37 | $1,561.60 | $2,029.60 |
| GS-6 | $21.76 | $24.66 | $28.29 | $1,740.80 | $2,263.20 |
| GS-7 | $24.18 | $27.40 | $31.43 | $1,934.40 | $2,514.40 |
| GS-8 | $26.78 | $30.35 | $34.81 | $2,142.40 | $2,784.80 |
| GS-9 | $29.57 | $33.52 | $38.45 | $2,365.60 | $3,076.00 |
| GS-10 | $32.57 | $36.91 | $42.34 | $2,605.60 | $3,387.20 |
| GS-11 | $35.78 | $40.55 | $46.52 | $2,862.40 | $3,721.60 |
| GS-12 | $42.89 | $48.61 | $55.76 | $3,431.20 | $4,460.80 |
| GS-13 | $51.00 | $57.80 | $66.30 | $4,080.00 | $5,304.00 |
| GS-14 | $60.27 | $68.30 | $78.35 | $4,821.60 | $6,268.00 |
| GS-15 | $70.89 | $80.34 | $92.16 | $5,671.20 | $7,372.80 |
Rest of U.S. compared with base pay and other areas
Step 1 salaries in this area against GS base pay and Washington DC (33.94%):
| Grade | Base pay | Rest of U.S. | Washington DC |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $40,736 | $46,610 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $50,460 | $57,736 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $61,722 | $70,623 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $74,678 | $85,447 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $89,508 | $102,415 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $106,437 | $121,785 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $125,776 | $143,913 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $147,945 | $169,279 |
See every area in the 2026 GS pay scale, or pay for one grade: GS-5 · GS-7 · GS-9 · GS-11 · GS-12 · GS-13 · GS-14 · GS-15.
How locality pay is calculated
Locality-adjusted pay = base pay × (1 + 0.1706), rounded to the nearest dollar and limited to $197,200. Example: GS-11 step 1 base pay is $63,795; with 17.06% locality pay it is $74,678.
- Locality pay counts as basic pay for retirement, the Thrift Savings Plan and life insurance.
- Your locality area depends on your official duty station, not where you live.
- Step increases take 1 year at steps 1 to 3, 2 years at steps 4 to 6 and 3 years at steps 7 to 9.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Rest of U.S. locality pay for 2026?
The 2026 locality payment for the Rest of U.S. pay area is 17.06% on top of General Schedule base pay. It ranks 52 of 52 locality areas (1 is the highest).
How much does a GS-13 make in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
A GS-13 in the Rest of U.S. locality area earns $106,437 at step 1 and $138,370 at step 10 in 2026. Base pay without locality is $90,925 to $118,204.
How much does a GS-12 make in Rest of U.S.?
GS-12 pay in Rest of U.S. is $89,508 at step 1 and $116,362 at step 10 in 2026, or $42.89 to $55.76 an hour.
How much does a GS-9 and GS-11 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2026 a GS-9 step 1 earns $61,722 and a GS-11 step 1 earns $74,678 in the Rest of U.S. area. At step 10 they earn $80,243 and $97,087.
Did Rest of U.S. federal employees get a raise in 2026?
Yes. GS base pay rose 1% in January 2026. Locality percentages were not changed, so pay in the Rest of U.S. area is 1% higher than in 2025.
Which counties are in this locality pay area?
Rest of U.S. covers every duty station in the contiguous United States that is not inside one of the other locality pay areas. Alaska and Hawaii have their own areas.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Confirm your official rate with OPM or your agency; special rate tables are not included.