GS-3 Pay in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME
$36,206 – $47,073 per year • 30.67% locality adjustment
GS-3 Salary Summary — Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME
Complete GS-3 Pay Table — Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,206 | $3,017 | $1,393 | $17.35 | $27,708 | +$8,498 |
| Step 2 | $37,413 | $3,118 | $1,439 | $17.93 | $28,632 | +$8,781 |
| Step 3 | $38,621 | $3,218 | $1,485 | $18.51 | $29,556 | +$9,065 |
| Step 4 | $39,828 | $3,319 | $1,532 | $19.08 | $30,480 | +$9,348 |
| Step 5 | $41,036 | $3,420 | $1,578 | $19.66 | $31,404 | +$9,632 |
| Step 6 | $42,243 | $3,520 | $1,625 | $20.24 | $32,328 | +$9,915 |
| Step 7 | $43,450 | $3,621 | $1,671 | $20.82 | $33,252 | +$10,198 |
| Step 8 | $44,658 | $3,722 | $1,718 | $21.40 | $34,176 | +$10,482 |
| Step 9 | $45,865 | $3,822 | $1,764 | $21.98 | $35,100 | +$10,765 |
| Step 10 | $47,073 | $3,923 | $1,811 | $22.56 | $36,024 | +$11,049 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME
How does GS-3 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-2 to GS-3 at Step 5 in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME is a raise of $4,634 per year.
GS-3 Federal Jobs in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME
Federal employees at GS-3 in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME locality area earn between $36,206 and $47,073 annually in 2026. This includes a 30.67% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-3 base pay of $27,708 to $36,024.
The Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME locality area covers Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine. At Step 5, a GS-3 employee here earns $4,274 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, Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-ME 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-3 Step 1 in this area is $1,393, or approximately $17.35 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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