United States · Federal pay · General Schedule 2026, 2027 freeze proposed
Federal GS pay scale 2027 locality calculator.
Pick a grade, step and locality to get annual and hourly General Schedule pay.
The 2026 table is the latest OPM has published. The President's August 2026 letter keeps 2027 base and locality pay at 2026 rates for civilian employees. A GS-12 step 1 earns $102,415 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington and $89,508 in the Rest of U.S. area.
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GS pay in 2027: what has been decided
OPM's salary-table pages list only the 2026 General Schedule when this page was checked on October 20, 2026. The 2026 table incorporated a 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026. For 2027, the President's alternative pay plan letter of August 26, 2026 (House Document 119-189) states that base pay and locality pay for civilian federal employees will not change from the 2026 rates. The same letter says that without the plan, locality pay would automatically have risen by an average of 20.6% along with a 3.1% across-the-board increase to the base schedule.
The letter also says OPM will use its own authority, in a separate process, to increase 2027 compensation for law enforcement personnel by 3.8%. OPM's salary-table pages showed no 2027 table when this page was checked. So the practical answer to a 2027 GS pay question today is the 2026 table below, with a freeze proposed and law enforcement handled separately. This page will not match a 2027 table if one is published later.
2026 General Schedule base pay, grades 1 to 15
These are annual base rates before locality pay, effective January 2026. Locality pay is added on top by the formula in the next section.
| 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 |
How locality pay turns base pay into your salary
Each locality pay area has its own percentage, printed on its OPM table. Your salary is the base rate times one plus that percentage, rounded to the whole dollar. OPM publishes a table for each of 58 areas, from 46.34% in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland down to 17.06% for the Rest of U.S. Hourly pay is the annual rate divided by 2,087 and rounded to the cent. Pay is capped at Executive Schedule level IV, which is $197,200 in 2026, so the top steps of GS-15 in high-locality areas stop short of the formula.
The table below lists every area with two example grades. Each cell was recomputed from base times the percentage and matches the OPM figure.
| Locality pay area | 2026 locality pay | GS-12 step 1 | GS-13 step 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 46.34% | $111,896 | $133,060 |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | $105,481 | $125,431 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | $104,349 | $124,085 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35.00% | $103,225 | $122,749 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | $102,415 | $121,785 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | $102,246 | $121,585 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | $101,375 | $120,548 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $101,206 | $120,348 |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 32.08% | $100,992 | $120,094 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | $100,602 | $119,630 |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | $100,059 | $118,984 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | $99,800 | $118,675 |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | $99,218 | $117,984 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | $98,729 | $117,402 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | $98,630 | $117,284 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | $97,582 | $116,038 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | $97,307 | $115,711 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | $96,443 | $114,684 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | $95,326 | $113,356 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | $94,654 | $112,556 |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 22.45% | $93,629 | $111,338 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 22.42% | $93,606 | $111,310 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | $93,598 | $111,301 |
| Richmond, VA | 22.28% | $93,499 | $111,183 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 22.24% | $93,468 | $111,147 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 22.23% | $93,461 | $111,138 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $93,445 | $111,119 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 22.15% | $93,400 | $111,065 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 21.93% | $93,231 | $110,865 |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 21.91% | $93,216 | $110,847 |
| Laredo, TX | 21.59% | $92,971 | $110,556 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 21.42% | $92,841 | $110,401 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 21.03% | $92,543 | $110,047 |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | 20.77% | $92,344 | $109,810 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 20.35% | $92,023 | $109,428 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 20.15% | $91,870 | $109,246 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL | 20.03% | $91,779 | $109,137 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 19.67% | $91,503 | $108,810 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 19.57% | $91,427 | $108,719 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 19.45% | $91,335 | $108,610 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 19.43% | $91,320 | $108,592 |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 19.28% | $91,205 | $108,455 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 18.97% | $90,968 | $108,173 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 18.93% | $90,937 | $108,137 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 18.80% | $90,838 | $108,019 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 18.78% | $90,823 | $108,001 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 18.33% | $90,479 | $107,592 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 18.24% | $90,410 | $107,510 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 18.23% | $90,402 | $107,501 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 18.15% | $90,341 | $107,428 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | 18.01% | $90,234 | $107,301 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 17.93% | $90,173 | $107,228 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | 17.88% | $90,135 | $107,182 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | 17.67% | $89,974 | $106,991 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 17.65% | $89,959 | $106,973 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 17.63% | $89,943 | $106,955 |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 17.52% | $89,859 | $106,855 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $89,508 | $106,437 |
Worked example with real numbers
A GS-12 step 1 has a 2026 base of $76,463. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington the locality pay is 33.94%, so the salary is $102,415 (about $49.07 an hour). In the Rest of U.S. area at 17.06% the same job pays $89,508, a difference of $12,907 a year. A GS-13 step 5 in Houston, at 35.00%, is $139,116.
The cap shows up at the top: a GS-15 step 3 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland works out to $197,281 on the formula but is paid $197,200, and every higher GS-15 step there is held at the same $197,200.
Common mistakes and edge cases
- Quoting base pay as salary. The GS table is only the start; locality pay can add 17% to 46%.
- Using the wrong area. Check OPM's locality pay area definitions for your duty station rather than assuming the nearest big city.
- Assuming a 2027 raise. The only 2027 action on record is the proposed freeze at the 2026 rates, plus a separate law enforcement adjustment.
- Ignoring law enforcement rules. OPM notes that GS law enforcement officers at grades 3 through 10 have a higher locality rate than the percentages shown here.
- Forgetting the cap. At the highest GS-15 steps in high-locality areas the formula exceeds $197,200 and the cap applies.
Who this is for and what it does not cover
This page is for federal job seekers, employees comparing duty stations and anyone who needs a GS salary for a given grade, step and area. It covers General Schedule base and locality pay for 2026 only. It does not cover special salary rates, law enforcement tables, wage-grade (WG) pay, Senior Executive Service pay, retirement or health deductions, or how long you wait between steps. After you have a gross figure, the federal income tax calculator and paycheck calculator turn it into take-home pay.
Common mix-ups
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Often assumedThe General Schedule table shows what a federal employee is paid in every city.
What the source saysOPM's base table is before locality pay. A GS-12 step 1 has a base rate of $76,463 in 2026, and locality pay for the duty station is added on top of it. [1]
Checked against these sources on .
Frequently asked questions
What is the 2027 federal GS pay scale?
No 2027 table was published as of October 20, 2026. The President's August 26, 2026 letter keeps base and locality pay for civilian employees at 2026 rates, so the 2026 table is the working answer. Law enforcement pay is handled in a separate OPM process.
How much was the 2026 federal pay raise?
The 2026 General Schedule table incorporates a 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026.
How is GS locality pay calculated?
Multiply the base rate for your grade and step by one plus your area's locality percentage and round to the dollar. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, GS-12 step 1 is $76,463 times 1.3394, or $102,415.
Which locality has the highest GS locality pay in 2026?
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland at 46.34%, followed by New York-Newark at 37.95%. The Rest of U.S. area is the lowest at 17.06%.
What is the maximum General Schedule salary in 2026?
Pay is limited to Executive Schedule level IV, $197,200. A GS-15 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland reaches that cap at step 3.
How do I get the hourly rate for a GS salary?
Divide the annual rate by 2,087 and round to the cent. A $102,415 salary is $49.07 an hour.
Does the locality pay apply to Alaska and Hawaii?
Yes. OPM lists the State of Alaska at 32.36% and the State of Hawaii at 22.21% for 2026.
Would the 2027 raise have been bigger without the freeze?
The President's letter says that under current law locality pay would have risen by an average of 20.6% in January 2027 along with a 3.1% across-the-board increase, which is the reason it gives for setting the adjustment to zero.
Sources
Retrieved October 20, 2026. Figures come from these primary sources, and anything calculated or estimated is labeled as such.
- OPM, 2026 General Schedule (GS) locality pay tables (58 areas)
- OPM, Salary Table 2026-GS (base annual rates)
- OPM, Salary Table 2026-DCB (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, 33.94%)
- House Document 119-189, the President's alternative plan for pay adjustments in January 2027 (August 26, 2026)
- 5 U.S.C. 5304, locality-based comparability payments (Executive Schedule level IV limit)
Reference, not an offer of pay
Figures are copied from OPM's 2026 salary tables and applied in your browser, with nothing sent anywhere. Your agency sets your actual grade, step and locality, and special pay rates can differ from the General Schedule.