GS Pay Scale 2026 Virginia Beach
The 2026 GS pay scale for Virginia Beach adds a 18.80% 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 Virginia Beach
Federal employees whose duty station is in the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC locality pay area receive General Schedule base pay plus a locality payment of 18.80% 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 Virginia Beach with the base pay and locality amounts, plus monthly, biweekly and hourly pay.
2026 GS pay table for Virginia Beach
Annual salary by grade and step for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC locality pay area, including the 18.80% 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 | 26,830 | 27,729 | 28,621 | 29,510 | 30,400 | 30,921 | 31,804 | 32,693 | 32,729 | 33,559 |
| GS-2 | 30,167 | 30,884 | 31,885 | 32,729 | 33,095 | 34,068 | 35,041 | 36,014 | 36,987 | 37,960 |
| GS-3 | 32,917 | 34,015 | 35,113 | 36,210 | 37,308 | 38,406 | 39,503 | 40,601 | 41,699 | 42,797 |
| GS-4 | 36,950 | 38,182 | 39,414 | 40,646 | 41,878 | 43,110 | 44,342 | 45,574 | 46,806 | 48,038 |
| GS-5 | 41,341 | 42,719 | 44,097 | 45,475 | 46,854 | 48,232 | 49,610 | 50,988 | 52,366 | 53,744 |
| GS-6 | 46,084 | 47,620 | 49,156 | 50,692 | 52,228 | 53,764 | 55,300 | 56,836 | 58,372 | 59,908 |
| GS-7 | 51,210 | 52,917 | 54,624 | 56,331 | 58,039 | 59,746 | 61,453 | 63,160 | 64,867 | 66,574 |
| GS-8 | 56,713 | 58,603 | 60,493 | 62,383 | 64,273 | 66,163 | 68,053 | 69,944 | 71,834 | 73,724 |
| GS-9 | 62,640 | 64,728 | 66,817 | 68,905 | 70,994 | 73,082 | 75,171 | 77,259 | 79,348 | 81,436 |
| GS-10 | 68,980 | 71,279 | 73,578 | 75,876 | 78,175 | 80,474 | 82,773 | 85,071 | 87,370 | 89,669 |
| GS-11 | 75,788 | 78,315 | 80,842 | 83,369 | 85,896 | 88,423 | 90,950 | 93,477 | 96,003 | 98,530 |
| GS-12 | 90,838 | 93,866 | 96,894 | 99,923 | 102,951 | 105,979 | 109,007 | 112,036 | 115,064 | 118,092 |
| GS-13 | 108,019 | 111,620 | 115,221 | 118,821 | 122,422 | 126,023 | 129,624 | 133,225 | 136,826 | 140,426 |
| GS-14 | 127,646 | 131,901 | 136,157 | 140,412 | 144,668 | 148,923 | 153,178 | 157,434 | 161,689 | 165,945 |
| GS-15 | 150,144 | 155,149 | 160,154 | 165,159 | 170,164 | 175,169 | 180,174 | 185,180 | 190,185 | 195,190 |
Virginia Beach 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 | $12.86 | $14.57 | $16.08 | $1,028.80 | $1,286.40 |
| GS-2 | $14.45 | $15.86 | $18.19 | $1,156.00 | $1,455.20 |
| GS-3 | $15.77 | $17.88 | $20.51 | $1,261.60 | $1,640.80 |
| GS-4 | $17.70 | $20.07 | $23.02 | $1,416.00 | $1,841.60 |
| GS-5 | $19.81 | $22.45 | $25.75 | $1,584.80 | $2,060.00 |
| GS-6 | $22.08 | $25.03 | $28.71 | $1,766.40 | $2,296.80 |
| GS-7 | $24.54 | $27.81 | $31.90 | $1,963.20 | $2,552.00 |
| GS-8 | $27.17 | $30.80 | $35.33 | $2,173.60 | $2,826.40 |
| GS-9 | $30.01 | $34.02 | $39.02 | $2,400.80 | $3,121.60 |
| GS-10 | $33.05 | $37.46 | $42.97 | $2,644.00 | $3,437.60 |
| GS-11 | $36.31 | $41.16 | $47.21 | $2,904.80 | $3,776.80 |
| GS-12 | $43.53 | $49.33 | $56.58 | $3,482.40 | $4,526.40 |
| GS-13 | $51.76 | $58.66 | $67.29 | $4,140.80 | $5,383.20 |
| GS-14 | $61.16 | $69.32 | $79.51 | $4,892.80 | $6,360.80 |
| GS-15 | $71.94 | $81.54 | $93.53 | $5,755.20 | $7,482.40 |
Virginia Beach compared with base pay and other areas
Step 1 salaries in this area against GS base pay and Rest of U.S. (17.06%) and Washington DC (33.94%):
| Grade | Base pay | Virginia Beach | Rest of U.S. | Washington DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $41,341 | $40,736 | $46,610 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $51,210 | $50,460 | $57,736 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $62,640 | $61,722 | $70,623 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $75,788 | $74,678 | $85,447 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $90,838 | $89,508 | $102,415 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $108,019 | $106,437 | $121,785 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $127,646 | $125,776 | $143,913 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $150,144 | $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 + 0.1880), rounded to the nearest dollar and limited to $197,200. Example: GS-11 step 1 base pay is $63,795; with 18.80% locality pay it is $75,788.
- 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 Virginia Beach locality pay for 2026?
The 2026 locality payment for the Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC pay area is 18.80% on top of General Schedule base pay. It ranks 42 of 52 locality areas (1 is the highest).
How much does a GS-13 make in Virginia Beach in 2026?
A GS-13 in the Virginia Beach locality area earns $108,019 at step 1 and $140,426 at step 10 in 2026. Base pay without locality is $90,925 to $118,204.
How much does a GS-12 make in Virginia Beach?
GS-12 pay in Virginia Beach is $90,838 at step 1 and $118,092 at step 10 in 2026, or $43.53 to $56.58 an hour.
How much does a GS-9 and GS-11 make in Virginia Beach?
In 2026 a GS-9 step 1 earns $62,640 and a GS-11 step 1 earns $75,788 in the Virginia Beach area. At step 10 they earn $81,436 and $98,530.
Did Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach area is 1% higher than in 2025.
Which counties are in this locality pay area?
The area is officially named Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC. OPM defines it by counties; a duty station outside every listed area is paid the Rest of U.S. rate of 17.06%. Your SF-50 shows the locality area that applies to you.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Confirm your official rate with OPM or your agency; special rate tables are not included.