GS-1 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$30,249 – $37,835 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-1 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-1 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $30,249 | $2,521 | $1,163 | $14.49 | $22,584 | +$7,665 |
| Step 2 | $31,263 | $2,605 | $1,202 | $14.98 | $23,341 | +$7,922 |
| Step 3 | $32,269 | $2,689 | $1,241 | $15.46 | $24,092 | +$8,177 |
| Step 4 | $33,271 | $2,773 | $1,280 | $15.94 | $24,840 | +$8,431 |
| Step 5 | $34,274 | $2,856 | $1,318 | $16.42 | $25,589 | +$8,685 |
| Step 6 | $34,862 | $2,905 | $1,341 | $16.70 | $26,028 | +$8,834 |
| Step 7 | $35,857 | $2,988 | $1,379 | $17.18 | $26,771 | +$9,086 |
| Step 8 | $36,859 | $3,072 | $1,418 | $17.66 | $27,519 | +$9,340 |
| Step 9 | $36,900 | $3,075 | $1,419 | $17.68 | $27,550 | +$9,350 |
| Step 10 | $37,835 | $3,153 | $1,455 | $18.13 | $28,248 | +$9,587 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-1 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
GS-1 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-1 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $30,249 and $37,835 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-1 base pay of $22,584 to $28,248.
The Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area covers District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. At Step 5, a GS-1 employee here earns $4,320 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-1 Step 1 in this area is $1,163, or approximately $14.49 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
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