GS-2 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$34,011 – $42,798 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-2 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-2 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $34,011 | $2,834 | $1,308 | $16.30 | $25,393 | +$8,618 |
| Step 2 | $34,820 | $2,902 | $1,339 | $16.68 | $25,997 | +$8,823 |
| Step 3 | $35,948 | $2,996 | $1,383 | $17.22 | $26,839 | +$9,109 |
| Step 4 | $36,900 | $3,075 | $1,419 | $17.68 | $27,550 | +$9,350 |
| Step 5 | $37,313 | $3,109 | $1,435 | $17.88 | $27,858 | +$9,455 |
| Step 6 | $38,410 | $3,201 | $1,477 | $18.40 | $28,677 | +$9,733 |
| Step 7 | $39,507 | $3,292 | $1,520 | $18.93 | $29,496 | +$10,011 |
| Step 8 | $40,604 | $3,384 | $1,562 | $19.46 | $30,315 | +$10,289 |
| Step 9 | $41,701 | $3,475 | $1,604 | $19.98 | $31,134 | +$10,567 |
| Step 10 | $42,798 | $3,567 | $1,646 | $20.51 | $31,953 | +$10,845 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-2 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-1 to GS-2 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $3,039 per year.
GS-2 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-2 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $34,011 and $42,798 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-2 base pay of $25,393 to $31,953.
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-2 employee here earns $4,702 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-2 Step 1 in this area is $1,308, or approximately $16.30 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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