The General Schedule (GS) pay system is the predominant pay scale for federal civilian employees. Understanding how it works is essential for anyone considering a federal career, negotiating a starting salary, or planning their career progression within the government.
How the GS System Works
The GS pay scale has 15 grade levels (GS-1 through GS-15), and each grade has 10 step levels. Your grade level is determined by the complexity and responsibility of your position, while your step level typically increases with time and performance.
In 2026, base GS pay ranges from approximately $24,000 at GS-1, Step 1 to over $157,000 at GS-15, Step 10 — before locality adjustments.
Understanding Grade Levels
GS-1 through GS-4 are entry-level positions typically requiring a high school diploma. GS-5 and GS-7 are common entry points for college graduates. GS-9 through GS-12 represent mid-career professional positions. GS-13 through GS-15 are senior-level positions requiring significant specialized experience. Many professional positions follow a career ladder, such as GS-7/9/11/12, meaning you start at GS-7 and receive automatic promotions to GS-12 with satisfactory performance.
Within-Grade Step Increases
Within each grade, you advance through 10 steps. Steps 1-3 require one year of acceptable performance for each increase. Steps 4-6 require two years each. Steps 7-10 require three years each. Going from Step 1 to Step 10 takes 18 years total. Each step increase typically represents about a 3% pay raise.
Locality Pay: The Game Changer
Here is where federal pay gets interesting. Locality pay adjustments increase your base GS salary based on where you work. The adjustments range from about 17% to over 45% depending on your duty station. San Francisco, San Jose, and Washington D.C. metro areas have the highest locality adjustments. This means a GS-12, Step 1 position might pay $75,000 in base salary but over $100,000 in a high-cost metro area.
Special Rate Tables
For certain hard-to-fill occupations — particularly in IT, engineering, medical, and scientific fields — OPM establishes special rate tables that pay above the standard GS rates. These special rates help the government compete with private sector salaries in high-demand fields.
Above GS-15: The Senior Executive Service
Positions above GS-15 fall into the Senior Executive Service (SES) or equivalent systems. SES pay in 2026 ranges from approximately $147,000 to $221,000. These are the top career positions in the federal government, equivalent to C-suite executives in the private sector.
Maximizing Your Federal Salary
Negotiate your starting step — agencies can offer higher steps based on superior qualifications or a special need. Seek positions with career ladders for automatic grade promotions. Consider higher-locality duty stations or remote positions assigned to high-locality areas. Pursue special rate positions in IT, engineering, or medical fields. Apply for promotions and competitive details to gain experience at higher grades.
The GS pay scale provides transparency and predictability that the private sector often lacks. Combined with federal benefits, the total compensation package is highly competitive — especially at mid-career and senior levels.