GS Pay Scale 2026
The 2026 GS pay scale includes the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. Choose your grade, step and locality pay area to see your annual, monthly, biweekly and hourly pay, or read the full tables below.
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About the GS Pay Scale 2026
The General Schedule (GS) sets the pay of most civilian white-collar federal employees. Pay has three parts: the grade, the step within the grade and the locality adjustment for where you work. All figures on this page come from the Office of Personnel Management salary tables for 2026.
How to use it
- Choose your GS grade (GS-1 to GS-15) and your step (1 to 10).
- Choose your locality pay area, or Rest of U.S. if your duty station is not in a listed area.
- Read your annual salary with locality pay and the monthly, biweekly and hourly amounts.
2026 GS base pay table
Annual General Schedule base rates by grade and step, effective January 2026, before locality pay:
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 22,584 | 23,341 | 24,092 | 24,840 | 25,589 | 26,028 | 26,771 | 27,519 | 27,550 | 28,248 |
| GS-2 | 25,393 | 25,997 | 26,839 | 27,550 | 27,858 | 28,677 | 29,496 | 30,315 | 31,134 | 31,953 |
| GS-3 | 27,708 | 28,632 | 29,556 | 30,480 | 31,404 | 32,328 | 33,252 | 34,176 | 35,100 | 36,024 |
| GS-4 | 31,103 | 32,140 | 33,177 | 34,214 | 35,251 | 36,288 | 37,325 | 38,362 | 39,399 | 40,436 |
| GS-5 | 34,799 | 35,959 | 37,119 | 38,279 | 39,439 | 40,599 | 41,759 | 42,919 | 44,079 | 45,239 |
| GS-6 | 38,791 | 40,084 | 41,377 | 42,670 | 43,963 | 45,256 | 46,549 | 47,842 | 49,135 | 50,428 |
| GS-7 | 43,106 | 44,543 | 45,980 | 47,417 | 48,854 | 50,291 | 51,728 | 53,165 | 54,602 | 56,039 |
| GS-8 | 47,738 | 49,329 | 50,920 | 52,511 | 54,102 | 55,693 | 57,284 | 58,875 | 60,466 | 62,057 |
| GS-9 | 52,727 | 54,485 | 56,243 | 58,001 | 59,759 | 61,517 | 63,275 | 65,033 | 66,791 | 68,549 |
| GS-10 | 58,064 | 59,999 | 61,934 | 63,869 | 65,804 | 67,739 | 69,674 | 71,609 | 73,544 | 75,479 |
| GS-11 | 63,795 | 65,922 | 68,049 | 70,176 | 72,303 | 74,430 | 76,557 | 78,684 | 80,811 | 82,938 |
| GS-12 | 76,463 | 79,012 | 81,561 | 84,110 | 86,659 | 89,208 | 91,757 | 94,306 | 96,855 | 99,404 |
| GS-13 | 90,925 | 93,956 | 96,987 | 100,018 | 103,049 | 106,080 | 109,111 | 112,142 | 115,173 | 118,204 |
| GS-14 | 107,446 | 111,028 | 114,610 | 118,192 | 121,774 | 125,356 | 128,938 | 132,520 | 136,102 | 139,684 |
| GS-15 | 126,384 | 130,597 | 134,810 | 139,023 | 143,236 | 147,449 | 151,662 | 155,875 | 160,088 | 164,301 |
2026 GS locality pay rates
Locality percentage for each pay area, with GS-7, GS-11 and GS-13 step 1 salaries. Areas not listed use the Rest of U.S. rate:
| Locality pay area | Locality rate | GS-7 step 1 | GS-11 step 1 | GS-13 step 1 | GS-15 step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $57,055 | $84,439 | $120,348 | $197,200 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 18.33% | $51,007 | $75,489 | $107,592 | $194,417 |
| Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | $53,361 | $78,972 | $112,556 | $197,200 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 18.24% | $50,969 | $75,431 | $107,510 | $194,270 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | $57,150 | $84,579 | $120,548 | $197,200 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | $52,766 | $78,091 | $111,301 | $197,200 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 19.45% | $51,490 | $76,203 | $108,610 | $196,258 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 19.67% | $51,585 | $76,343 | $108,810 | $196,619 |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | $56,409 | $83,482 | $118,984 | $197,200 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 21.93% | $52,559 | $77,785 | $110,865 | $197,200 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 22.23% | $52,688 | $77,977 | $111,138 | $197,200 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 20.15% | $51,792 | $76,650 | $109,246 | $197,200 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 22.15% | $52,654 | $77,926 | $111,065 | $197,200 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 17.63% | $50,706 | $75,042 | $106,955 | $193,267 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | $54,857 | $81,186 | $115,711 | $197,200 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 18.93% | $51,266 | $75,871 | $108,137 | $195,403 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 21.42% | $52,339 | $77,460 | $110,401 | $197,200 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | $56,262 | $83,265 | $118,675 | $197,200 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | $55,658 | $82,372 | $117,402 | $197,200 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 17.65% | $50,714 | $75,055 | $106,973 | $193,300 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 19.43% | $51,481 | $76,190 | $108,592 | $196,225 |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 32.08% | $56,934 | $84,260 | $120,094 | $197,200 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $52,680 | $77,964 | $111,119 | $197,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35.00% | $58,193 | $86,123 | $122,749 | $197,200 |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 21.91% | $52,551 | $77,772 | $110,847 | $197,200 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 18.15% | $50,930 | $75,374 | $107,428 | $194,122 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 18.97% | $51,283 | $75,897 | $108,173 | $195,469 |
| Laredo, TX | 21.59% | $52,413 | $77,568 | $110,556 | $197,200 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 19.57% | $51,542 | $76,280 | $108,719 | $196,455 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | $58,827 | $87,061 | $124,085 | $197,200 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | $53,740 | $79,533 | $113,356 | $197,200 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 22.42% | $52,770 | $78,098 | $111,310 | $197,200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | $55,012 | $81,415 | $116,038 | $197,200 |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | $59,465 | $88,005 | $125,431 | $197,200 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 18.23% | $50,964 | $75,425 | $107,501 | $194,253 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 17.93% | $50,835 | $75,233 | $107,228 | $193,760 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | $55,602 | $82,289 | $117,284 | $197,200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 22.45% | $52,783 | $78,117 | $111,338 | $197,200 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 21.03% | $52,171 | $77,211 | $110,047 | $197,200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | $54,370 | $80,465 | $114,684 | $197,200 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 22.24% | $52,693 | $77,983 | $111,147 | $197,200 |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 17.52% | $50,658 | $74,972 | $106,855 | $193,087 |
| Richmond, VA | 22.28% | $52,710 | $78,009 | $111,183 | $197,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | $55,934 | $82,780 | $117,984 | $197,200 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 18.78% | $51,201 | $75,776 | $108,001 | $195,157 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | $57,641 | $85,307 | $121,585 | $197,200 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 46.34% | $63,081 | $93,358 | $133,060 | $197,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | $56,715 | $83,935 | $119,630 | $197,200 |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 19.28% | $51,417 | $76,095 | $108,455 | $195,978 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 18.80% | $51,210 | $75,788 | $108,019 | $195,190 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | $57,736 | $85,447 | $121,785 | $197,200 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $50,460 | $74,678 | $106,437 | $192,331 |
GS pay with Rest of U.S. locality (17.06%)
The Rest of U.S. table applies to federal employees outside the specific locality areas:
| 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 |
How GS pay works
- Grade (GS-1 to GS-15) reflects the difficulty and responsibility of the job.
- Step (1 to 10) rewards time in grade: 1 year for steps 2 to 4, 2 years for steps 5 to 7 and 3 years for steps 8 to 10.
- Locality pay is added to base pay according to your duty station.
- Hourly rate = annual salary ÷ 2,087; biweekly pay = hourly rate × 80.
- Cap: base plus locality cannot exceed $197,200 in 2026.
Estimate your federal pension with the FERS retirement calculator and your take-home with the paycheck calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the GS pay raise for 2026?
General Schedule base pay increased 1% in January 2026. Locality pay percentages stayed the same as in 2025, so total pay rose 1% in every locality area.
How much does a GS-13 make in 2026?
GS-13 base pay ranges from $90,925 (step 1) to $118,204 (step 10). With Washington, DC locality pay (33.94%) it is $121,785 to $158,322; in the Rest of U.S. area (17.06%) it is $106,437 to $138,370.
How much does a GS-9 make in 2026?
GS-9 base pay is $52,727 at step 1 and $68,549 at step 10. In the Rest of U.S. locality area that is $61,722 to $80,243.
How much does a GS-7 make in 2026?
GS-7 base pay is $43,106 at step 1 and $56,039 at step 10, or $50,460 to $65,599 with Rest of U.S. locality pay.
What is locality pay?
Locality pay is a percentage added to GS base pay to reflect local labor costs. In 2026 it ranges from 17.06% in the Rest of U.S. area to 46.34% in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland area. Almost every GS employee in the contiguous United States receives it.
How long does it take to move up a GS step?
Within-grade increases require 1 year at steps 1 to 3, 2 years at steps 4 to 6 and 3 years at steps 7 to 9, with acceptable performance. Going from step 1 to step 10 takes 18 years.
What is the maximum GS pay in 2026?
GS pay including locality is capped at $197,200, the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule. The cap affects GS-15 and some GS-14 steps in high-cost areas.
How is the GS hourly rate calculated?
OPM divides the annual salary by 2,087 hours. A GS-11 step 1 in the Rest of U.S. area earns $74,678 a year, which is $35.78 an hour and $2,862.40 per biweekly pay period.
Official sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Reference only. Confirm your official rate with OPM or your agency; special rate tables are not included.
Related free tools
GS pay by grade (2026)
GS-1 pay · GS-2 pay · GS-3 pay · GS-4 pay · GS-5 pay · GS-6 pay · GS-7 pay · GS-8 pay · GS-9 pay · GS-10 pay · GS-11 pay · GS-12 pay · GS-13 pay · GS-14 pay · GS-15 pay
GS pay scale by locality (2026)
Alaska · Albuquerque · Atlanta · Birmingham · Boston · Buffalo · Burlington · Charlotte · Chicago · Cincinnati · Cleveland · Colorado Springs · Columbus · Corpus Christi · Dallas-Fort Worth · Davenport · Dayton · Denver · Detroit · Fresno · Harrisburg · Hartford · Hawaii · Houston · Huntsville · Indianapolis · Kansas City · Laredo · Las Vegas · Los Angeles · Miami · Milwaukee · Minneapolis-St. Paul · New York · Omaha · Palm Bay · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Pittsburgh · Portland · Raleigh · Reno · Rest of U.S. · Richmond · Sacramento · San Antonio · San Diego · San Francisco · Seattle · Tucson · Virginia Beach · Washington DC