GS Pay Scale 2026 (and 2027)
Official OPM tables for every grade, step, and all 58 locality areas, effective January 2026.
2026 raise
1%
Rest of U.S. locality
17.06%
Washington-Baltimore
33.94%
Highest locality
46.34% (San Francisco-San Jose, CA)
Pay cap
$197,200
Look up your 2026 GS salary
Annual
$61,722
Per paycheck (biweekly)
$2,365.60
Monthly
$5,144
Hourly
$29.57
GS-9 step 1, Rest of U.S.: base $52,727 plus 17.06% locality pay. Step 2 pays $63,780 (+$2,058) after 52 weeks at step 1.
The 2027 GS pay scale
The President has proposed a pay freeze for 2027: no across-the-board raise and no locality increase. If it holds, the 2027 GS tables are the same as the 2026 tables below, and only step increases and promotions raise your pay. It isn't final until the December executive order, and Congress can still pass a raise. OPM usually posts the new tables in late December or early January; we'll update this page the same day. Follow the 2027 pay raise tracker.
Get one email the day the 2027 raise and tables are final:
2026 GS pay tables
| 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 |
| 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 locality pay by area
Your locality area is set by your duty station, not where you live. Pick your area for its full table.
| Locality area | Locality pay | GS-7/1 | GS-9/1 | GS-11/1 | GS-12/1 | GS-13/1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $50,460 | $61,722 | $74,678 | $89,508 | $106,437 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $57,055 | $69,789 | $84,439 | $101,206 | $120,348 |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | 20.77% | $52,059 | $63,678 | $77,045 | $92,344 | $109,810 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 18.33% | $51,007 | $62,392 | $75,489 | $90,479 | $107,592 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | $53,361 | $65,271 | $78,972 | $94,654 | $112,556 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 20.35% | $51,878 | $63,457 | $76,777 | $92,023 | $109,428 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 18.24% | $50,969 | $62,344 | $75,431 | $90,410 | $107,510 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | $57,150 | $69,905 | $84,579 | $101,375 | $120,548 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | $52,766 | $64,543 | $78,091 | $93,598 | $111,301 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 19.45% | $51,490 | $62,982 | $76,203 | $91,335 | $108,610 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 19.67% | $51,585 | $63,098 | $76,343 | $91,503 | $108,810 |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | $56,409 | $68,999 | $83,482 | $100,059 | $118,984 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 21.93% | $52,559 | $64,290 | $77,785 | $93,231 | $110,865 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 22.23% | $52,688 | $64,448 | $77,977 | $93,461 | $111,138 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 20.15% | $51,792 | $63,351 | $76,650 | $91,870 | $109,246 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 22.15% | $52,654 | $64,406 | $77,926 | $93,400 | $111,065 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 17.63% | $50,706 | $62,023 | $75,042 | $89,943 | $106,955 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | $54,857 | $67,100 | $81,186 | $97,307 | $115,711 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 18.93% | $51,266 | $62,708 | $75,871 | $90,937 | $108,137 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 21.42% | $52,339 | $64,021 | $77,460 | $92,841 | $110,401 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | $56,262 | $68,819 | $83,265 | $99,800 | $118,675 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | 18.01% | $50,869 | $62,223 | $75,284 | $90,234 | $107,301 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | $55,658 | $68,081 | $82,372 | $98,729 | $117,402 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 17.65% | $50,714 | $62,033 | $75,055 | $89,959 | $106,973 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 19.43% | $51,481 | $62,972 | $76,190 | $91,320 | $108,592 |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 32.08% | $56,934 | $69,642 | $84,260 | $100,992 | $120,094 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $52,680 | $64,438 | $77,964 | $93,445 | $111,119 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35% | $58,193 | $71,181 | $86,123 | $103,225 | $122,749 |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 21.91% | $52,551 | $64,279 | $77,772 | $93,216 | $110,847 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 18.15% | $50,930 | $62,297 | $75,374 | $90,341 | $107,428 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 18.97% | $51,283 | $62,729 | $75,897 | $90,968 | $108,173 |
| Laredo, TX | 21.59% | $52,413 | $64,111 | $77,568 | $92,971 | $110,556 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 19.57% | $51,542 | $63,046 | $76,280 | $91,427 | $108,719 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | $58,827 | $71,957 | $87,061 | $104,349 | $124,085 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | $53,740 | $65,735 | $79,533 | $95,326 | $113,356 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 22.42% | $52,770 | $64,548 | $78,098 | $93,606 | $111,310 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | $55,012 | $67,290 | $81,415 | $97,582 | $116,038 |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | $59,465 | $72,737 | $88,005 | $105,481 | $125,431 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 18.23% | $50,964 | $62,339 | $75,425 | $90,402 | $107,501 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 17.93% | $50,835 | $62,181 | $75,233 | $90,173 | $107,228 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | $55,602 | $68,013 | $82,289 | $98,630 | $117,284 |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 22.45% | $52,783 | $64,564 | $78,117 | $93,629 | $111,338 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 21.03% | $52,171 | $63,815 | $77,211 | $92,543 | $110,047 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | $54,370 | $66,505 | $80,465 | $96,443 | $114,684 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 22.24% | $52,693 | $64,453 | $77,983 | $93,468 | $111,147 |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 17.52% | $50,658 | $61,965 | $74,972 | $89,859 | $106,855 |
| Richmond, VA | 22.28% | $52,710 | $64,475 | $78,009 | $93,499 | $111,183 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | 17.88% | $50,813 | $62,155 | $75,202 | $90,135 | $107,182 |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | $55,934 | $68,419 | $82,780 | $99,218 | $117,984 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 18.78% | $51,201 | $62,629 | $75,776 | $90,823 | $108,001 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | $57,641 | $70,507 | $85,307 | $102,246 | $121,585 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 46.34% | $63,081 | $77,161 | $93,358 | $111,896 | $133,060 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | $56,715 | $69,373 | $83,935 | $100,602 | $119,630 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | 17.67% | $50,723 | $62,044 | $75,068 | $89,974 | $106,991 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL | 20.03% | $51,740 | $63,288 | $76,573 | $91,779 | $109,137 |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 19.28% | $51,417 | $62,893 | $76,095 | $91,205 | $108,455 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 18.8% | $51,210 | $62,640 | $75,788 | $90,838 | $108,019 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | $57,736 | $70,623 | $85,447 | $102,415 | $121,785 |
How to read the GS pay scale
Grade (GS-1 to GS-15) is the level of the job. Step (1 to 10) is your place within the grade; you move up with time and acceptable performance.
Your salary is base pay plus locality pay. OPM multiplies the base table by your area's locality percentage and rounds to the dollar. That is exactly how every number on this page is calculated, and it matches OPM's published tables cell for cell.
Step waiting periods: 52 weeks at steps 1–3, 104 weeks at steps 4–6, and 156 weeks at steps 7–9. A freeze does not stop them. See GS step increases explained.
The cap: no GS salary, with locality pay, can exceed $197,200 (Executive Schedule level IV). In high-locality areas the top steps of GS-14 and GS-15 hit it.
Some jobs use special rates instead, including law enforcement (see the 2027 law enforcement rates).
Common questions
What is the GS pay scale for 2026?
The 2026 General Schedule took effect in January 2026 with a 1% across-the-board increase. Base pay for GS-1 step 1 is $22,584 and GS-15 step 10 is $164,301 before locality pay. Locality pay adds 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) up to 46.34% (San Francisco-San Jose, CA), and no GS salary can exceed $197,200.
What will the 2027 GS pay scale be?
The President proposed freezing GS base and locality pay for 2027. If that holds, the 2027 tables are identical to the 2026 tables on this page. It is not final until the pay executive order is signed in December, and Congress can still pass a raise.
How much is a GS-12 step 1 in 2026?
$89,508 in the Rest of U.S. locality area and $102,415 in Washington-Baltimore. Use the lookup above for any area.
How long does it take to move up a GS step?
One year at each of steps 1 through 3 (to reach steps 2–4), two years at steps 4 through 6, and three years at steps 7 through 9, if your performance is at an acceptable level.
Source: OPM salary tables for 2026 (opm.gov). FedInfo.org is independent and not affiliated with OPM.