2026 GS Pay Scale Federal Salary Tables
General Schedule pay rates for all 15 grades, 10 steps & 54 locality areas
Key Changes for 2026
Federal employees under the General Schedule received a 1% across-the-board base pay increase for 2026. Locality pay percentages remain frozen at 2025 levels. The pay rates took effect on January 11, 2026. Federal law enforcement personnel covered under specific authorities receive a higher 3.8% increase.
The maximum GS salary is capped at Executive Schedule Level IV: $197,200. This primarily affects GS-15 employees in high-locality areas like San Francisco, Washington DC, and New York.
2026 GS Base Pay Scale (Before Locality)
This table shows the base pay range for each GS grade before locality adjustments. Click any grade to see the full 10-step table with all locality calculations.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 | Typical Roles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $28,248 | Clerical support | View Table → |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $31,953 | High school diploma, no experience | View Table → |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $36,024 | Administrative assistant | View Table → |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $40,436 | Technician, upper clerical | View Table → |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $45,239 | Bachelor's degree entry level | View Table → |
| GS-6 | $38,794 | $50,431 | Experienced technician | View Table → |
| GS-7 | $43,107 | $56,040 | Bachelor's + 1 yr or Master's entry | View Table → |
| GS-8 | $47,741 | $62,060 | Senior technician | View Table → |
| GS-9 | $52,721 | $68,534 | Master's degree or GS-7 + 1 yr | View Table → |
| GS-10 | $58,049 | $75,167 | Specialized technical | View Table → |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $82,929 | PhD entry or GS-9 + 1 yr | View Table → |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $99,404 | Full-performance professional | View Table → |
| GS-13 | $90,937 | $118,216 | Senior professional, team lead | View Table → |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $139,675 | Senior manager, expert | View Table → |
| GS-15 | $126,390 | $164,307 | Top professional, division director | View Table → |
2026 Locality Pay Areas
Federal salaries vary significantly by location. The locality adjustment ranges from 17.06% (Rest of US) to 46.34% (San Jose-San Francisco). Select a locality below to see adjusted pay tables for all grades.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is GS pay calculated?
Your GS salary = Base Pay × (1 + Locality Percentage). For example, a GS-12 Step 5 with base pay of $86,659 in the Washington DC area (33.94% locality) would earn: $86,659 × 1.3394 = $116,070 annually.
How many GS locality pay areas are there?
There are 54 locality pay areas in 2026, covering metropolitan areas plus the catch-all "Rest of United States" rate for locations not in a designated area.
What is the GS pay cap?
No GS employee can earn more than Executive Schedule Level IV, which is $197,200 for 2026. This cap primarily affects GS-15 employees in high-locality areas like San Francisco (46.34%), New York (38.72%), and Washington DC (33.94%).
How do GS step increases work?
Steps 1-3: one year wait between steps. Steps 4-6: two years between steps. Steps 7-10: three years between steps. Total time from Step 1 to Step 10 is 18 years. Each step is approximately a 3% increase. Exceptional performers may receive a Quality Step Increase (QSI).
Did federal pay go up in 2026?
Yes. Federal employees received a 1% across-the-board base pay increase for 2026. However, locality pay percentages were frozen at 2025 levels. Law enforcement personnel received a higher 3.8% increase.