GS pay scale 2026: the official General Schedule table, every locality and what changed.
The 2026 General Schedule base pay table from OPM, the locality payment for all 58 locality pay areas, and how 2026 compares with 2025 and 2024.
OPM's 2026 General Schedule base table runs from $22,584 a year (GS-1, step 1) to $164,301 (GS-15, step 10), after the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. On top of the base table, OPM publishes a locality payment for each of its 58 locality pay areas: in 2026 it ranges from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), the same percentages as in 2025. No locality rate can exceed $197,200, the Executive Schedule level IV limit OPM prints on its tables.
2026 General Schedule base pay, by grade and step
Annual rates before locality pay. Open a grade for its locality rates.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 | Within-grade amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $23,341 | $24,092 | $24,840 | $25,589 | $26,028 | $26,771 | $27,519 | $27,550 | $28,248 | Varies |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $25,997 | $26,839 | $27,550 | $27,858 | $28,677 | $29,496 | $30,315 | $31,134 | $31,953 | Varies |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $28,632 | $29,556 | $30,480 | $31,404 | $32,328 | $33,252 | $34,176 | $35,100 | $36,024 | $924 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $32,140 | $33,177 | $34,214 | $35,251 | $36,288 | $37,325 | $38,362 | $39,399 | $40,436 | $1,037 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $35,959 | $37,119 | $38,279 | $39,439 | $40,599 | $41,759 | $42,919 | $44,079 | $45,239 | $1,160 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $40,084 | $41,377 | $42,670 | $43,963 | $45,256 | $46,549 | $47,842 | $49,135 | $50,428 | $1,293 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $44,543 | $45,980 | $47,417 | $48,854 | $50,291 | $51,728 | $53,165 | $54,602 | $56,039 | $1,437 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $49,329 | $50,920 | $52,511 | $54,102 | $55,693 | $57,284 | $58,875 | $60,466 | $62,057 | $1,591 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $54,485 | $56,243 | $58,001 | $59,759 | $61,517 | $63,275 | $65,033 | $66,791 | $68,549 | $1,758 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $59,999 | $61,934 | $63,869 | $65,804 | $67,739 | $69,674 | $71,609 | $73,544 | $75,479 | $1,935 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $65,922 | $68,049 | $70,176 | $72,303 | $74,430 | $76,557 | $78,684 | $80,811 | $82,938 | $2,127 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $79,012 | $81,561 | $84,110 | $86,659 | $89,208 | $91,757 | $94,306 | $96,855 | $99,404 | $2,549 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $93,956 | $96,987 | $100,018 | $103,049 | $106,080 | $109,111 | $112,142 | $115,173 | $118,204 | $3,031 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $111,028 | $114,610 | $118,192 | $121,774 | $125,356 | $128,938 | $132,520 | $136,102 | $139,684 | $3,582 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $130,597 | $134,810 | $139,023 | $143,236 | $147,449 | $151,662 | $155,875 | $160,088 | $164,301 | $4,213 |
2026 locality payments for all 58 areas
Each area's percentage is added on top of the base table. Step 1 and step 10 of GS-9, GS-12 and GS-13 shown; open an area for its full table.
| Locality pay area | Locality payment | GS-9 step 1 | GS-12 step 1 | GS-13 step 1 | GS-13 step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 46.34% | $77,161 | $111,896 | $133,060 | $172,980 |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | $72,737 | $105,481 | $125,431 | $163,062 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | $71,957 | $104,349 | $124,085 | $161,313 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35.00% | $71,181 | $103,225 | $122,749 | $159,575 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | $70,623 | $102,415 | $121,785 | $158,322 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | $70,507 | $102,246 | $121,585 | $158,062 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | $69,905 | $101,375 | $120,548 | $156,715 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $69,789 | $101,206 | $120,348 | $156,455 |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 32.08% | $69,642 | $100,992 | $120,094 | $156,124 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | $69,373 | $100,602 | $119,630 | $155,521 |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | $68,999 | $100,059 | $118,984 | $154,682 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | $68,819 | $99,800 | $118,675 | $154,280 |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | $68,419 | $99,218 | $117,984 | $153,382 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | $68,081 | $98,729 | $117,402 | $152,625 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | $68,013 | $98,630 | $117,284 | $152,471 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | $67,290 | $97,582 | $116,038 | $150,852 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | $67,100 | $97,307 | $115,711 | $150,426 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | $66,505 | $96,443 | $114,684 | $149,091 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | $65,735 | $95,326 | $113,356 | $147,365 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | $65,271 | $94,654 | $112,556 | $146,325 |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 22.45% | $64,564 | $93,629 | $111,338 | $144,741 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 22.42% | $64,548 | $93,606 | $111,310 | $144,705 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | $64,543 | $93,598 | $111,301 | $144,694 |
| Richmond, VA | 22.28% | $64,475 | $93,499 | $111,183 | $144,540 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 22.24% | $64,453 | $93,468 | $111,147 | $144,493 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 22.23% | $64,448 | $93,461 | $111,138 | $144,481 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $64,438 | $93,445 | $111,119 | $144,457 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 22.15% | $64,406 | $93,400 | $111,065 | $144,386 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 21.93% | $64,290 | $93,231 | $110,865 | $144,126 |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 21.91% | $64,279 | $93,216 | $110,847 | $144,102 |
| Laredo, TX | 21.59% | $64,111 | $92,971 | $110,556 | $143,724 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 21.42% | $64,021 | $92,841 | $110,401 | $143,523 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 21.03% | $63,815 | $92,543 | $110,047 | $143,062 |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | 20.77% | $63,678 | $92,344 | $109,810 | $142,755 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 20.35% | $63,457 | $92,023 | $109,428 | $142,259 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 20.15% | $63,351 | $91,870 | $109,246 | $142,022 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL | 20.03% | $63,288 | $91,779 | $109,137 | $141,880 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 19.67% | $63,098 | $91,503 | $108,810 | $141,455 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 19.57% | $63,046 | $91,427 | $108,719 | $141,337 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 19.45% | $62,982 | $91,335 | $108,610 | $141,195 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 19.43% | $62,972 | $91,320 | $108,592 | $141,171 |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 19.28% | $62,893 | $91,205 | $108,455 | $140,994 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 18.97% | $62,729 | $90,968 | $108,173 | $140,627 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 18.93% | $62,708 | $90,937 | $108,137 | $140,580 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 18.80% | $62,640 | $90,838 | $108,019 | $140,426 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 18.78% | $62,629 | $90,823 | $108,001 | $140,403 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 18.33% | $62,392 | $90,479 | $107,592 | $139,871 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 18.24% | $62,344 | $90,410 | $107,510 | $139,764 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 18.23% | $62,339 | $90,402 | $107,501 | $139,753 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 18.15% | $62,297 | $90,341 | $107,428 | $139,658 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | 18.01% | $62,223 | $90,234 | $107,301 | $139,493 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 17.93% | $62,181 | $90,173 | $107,228 | $139,398 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | 17.88% | $62,155 | $90,135 | $107,182 | $139,339 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | 17.67% | $62,044 | $89,974 | $106,991 | $139,091 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 17.65% | $62,033 | $89,959 | $106,973 | $139,067 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 17.63% | $62,023 | $89,943 | $106,955 | $139,043 |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 17.52% | $61,965 | $89,859 | $106,855 | $138,913 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $61,722 | $89,508 | $106,437 | $138,370 |
How the 2026 table compares with 2025 and 2024
In 2026 OPM applied a 1% increase to the base table and left every locality payment where it was in 2025. In 2025 the base increase was 1.7% and in 2024 it was 4.7%, with locality payments that also changed.
| Year | GS increase | Rest of U.S. locality | Washington-Baltimore locality | Base GS-1 step 1 | Base GS-15 step 10 | Locality cap (EX-IV) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1% | 17.06% | 33.94% | $22,584 | $164,301 | $197,200 |
| 2025 | 1.7% | 17.06% | 33.94% | $22,360 | $162,672 | $195,200 |
| 2024 | 4.7% | 16.82% | 33.26% | $21,986 | $159,950 | $191,900 |
As of Nov 3, 2026, OPM's salary tables index lists tables through 2026; no 2027 General Schedule tables were posted. This page will add 2027 figures only after OPM publishes them.
How GS steps work
OPM's within-grade increase rules set the waiting time in each step for an employee with a scheduled tour of duty: 52 weeks in each of steps 1 to 3, 104 weeks in each of steps 4 to 6 and 156 weeks in each of steps 7 to 9. Added together that is 936 weeks, about 18 years, from step 1 to step 10 within one grade, if each increase is earned on time (performance must be at an acceptable level).
| Move | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Step 1 to step 2 | 52 weeks |
| Step 2 to step 3 | 52 weeks |
| Step 3 to step 4 | 52 weeks |
| Step 4 to step 5 | 104 weeks |
| Step 5 to step 6 | 104 weeks |
| Step 6 to step 7 | 104 weeks |
| Step 7 to step 8 | 156 weeks |
| Step 8 to step 9 | 156 weeks |
| Step 9 to step 10 | 156 weeks |
GS pay by grade, with every locality
$34,799 to $45,239 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-6GS-6 pay 2026$38,791 to $50,428 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-7GS-7 pay 2026$43,106 to $56,039 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-9GS-9 pay 2026$52,727 to $68,549 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-10GS-10 pay 2026$58,064 to $75,479 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-11GS-11 pay 2026$63,795 to $82,938 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-12GS-12 pay 2026$76,463 to $99,404 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-13GS-13 pay 2026$90,925 to $118,204 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-14GS-14 pay 2026$107,446 to $139,684 base, plus each locality.
Open →GS-15GS-15 pay 2026$126,384 to $164,301 base, plus each locality.
Open →LocalityWashington DC GS pay 202633.94% locality payment.
Open →LocalitySan Diego GS pay 202633.72% locality payment.
Open →LocalityAtlanta GS pay 202623.79% locality payment.
Open →LocalitySeattle GS pay 202631.57% locality payment.
Open →LocalityPhiladelphia GS pay 202628.99% locality payment.
Open →LocalitySan Antonio GS pay 202618.78% locality payment.
Open →Past tableGS pay scale 20251.7% increase.
Open →Past tableGS pay scale 20244.7% increase.
Open →Free toolSalary to hourly calculatorConvert any annual GS rate at your own hours.
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How this page is built
Every pay figure on this page is copied from the General Schedule salary tables that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes; TryHired does not estimate, average or project any rate. We checked every locality cell for 2024, 2025 and 2026 against OPM's base table times one plus the locality payment, rounded to the nearest dollar: all of them match, except the cells OPM limits to the Executive Schedule level IV rate, which OPM marks with an asterisk. Tables fetched from opm.gov on Nov 3, 2026.
- Your own pay: agencies set your grade and step, and some positions are paid from special rate tables or other pay systems that this page does not cover.
- Future tables: we publish a year's figures only after OPM posts that year's tables.
- Hourly, overtime and premium pay: OPM publishes these separately; this page shows annual rates only.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-GS (public domain), fetched Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-RUS (public domain), fetched Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-DCB (public domain), fetched Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2025-GS (public domain), fetched Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2024-GS (public domain), fetched Nov 3, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Within-Grade Increases fact sheet (public domain).