U.S. · Federal pay 2026
GS pay scale 2026, by grade and step.
OPM General Schedule base salaries for all 15 grades and 10 steps, with two locality examples.
The 2026 General Schedule base pay runs from $22,584 (GS-1 step 1) to $164,301 (GS-15 step 10), incorporating the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. A GS-12 step 1 earns $76,463 base, $89,508 in the Rest of U.S. area and $102,415 in the Washington DC area.
GS pay finder, 2026
Result
The 2026 General Schedule base pay table
This is the OPM base table before locality pay, incorporating the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. Annual rates in dollars, 15 grades and 10 steps. Every federal employee on the GS scale also receives a locality adjustment for the area where they work, and some jobs have special rates.
| 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 |
Adding locality pay
Locality pay is a percentage added to the base rate for the area. Two examples from OPM's 2026 tables: the Rest of U.S. area pays 17.06% on top of base and the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington area pays 33.94%. Each rate in OPM's locality tables equals the base rate times (1 + locality percentage), rounded to the nearest dollar, and any locality rate is limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, which was $197,200 in 2026.
| Grade | Base, step 1 | Rest of U.S., step 1 | Washington DC area, step 1 | Base, step 10 | Rest of U.S., step 10 | Washington DC area, step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $40,736 | $46,610 | $45,239 | $52,957 | $60,593 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $50,460 | $57,736 | $56,039 | $65,599 | $75,059 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $61,722 | $70,623 | $68,549 | $80,243 | $91,815 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $74,678 | $85,447 | $82,938 | $97,087 | $111,087 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $89,508 | $102,415 | $99,404 | $116,362 | $133,142 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $106,437 | $121,785 | $118,204 | $138,370 | $158,322 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $125,776 | $143,913 | $139,684 | $163,514 | $187,093 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $147,945 | $169,279 | $164,301 | $192,331 | $197,200 |
Worked example
A GS-12, step 1 employee in 2026. Base pay is $76,463. In the Rest of U.S. area (17.06%) that is $76,463 × 1.1706 = $89,508. In the Washington DC area (33.94%) it is $102,415. The same grade and step was $75,706 in 2025, so the base table rose by $757 (1.0%).
For your own locality
OPM publishes a table for each of its locality pay areas. For any of the 58 areas, grade and step use the GS pay scale locality calculator.
This table took effect in January 2026. Check OPM for any later pay table before relying on it.
Sources
Primary sources opened and checked on November 2, 2026. Figures are as published by the source on that date.
- OPM, 2026 General Schedule (base) salary table (read November 2, 2026)
- OPM, 2026 General Schedule, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality table (read November 2, 2026)
- OPM, 2026 General Schedule, Rest of U.S. locality table (read November 2, 2026)
- OPM, 2026 General Schedule overview (read November 2, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How much did the GS pay scale increase in 2026?
OPM's 2026 table incorporates the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. Locality pay is added on top.
What is the highest base GS salary in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 at $164,301 before locality pay. With locality pay, rates are limited to Executive Schedule level IV, $197,200 in 2026.
What is the lowest GS salary in 2026?
GS-1 step 1 at $22,584 a year before locality pay.
How do I find GS pay with locality?
Multiply the base rate by 1 plus the locality percentage and round to the nearest dollar. The Rest of U.S. locality was 17.06% and Washington-Baltimore-Arlington was 33.94% in 2026.
How many steps are there in each GS grade?
Ten. Within-grade increases move an employee from step to step.
Reference data, not pay advice
Figures are copied from the OPM tables linked above. Special rates, law enforcement officer rates and agency pay rules can change your actual pay. Check your agency or OPM for your own locality and grade.