GS-3 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$37,112 – $48,251 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-3 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-3 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,112 | $3,093 | $1,427 | $17.78 | $27,708 | +$9,404 |
| Step 2 | $38,350 | $3,196 | $1,475 | $18.38 | $28,632 | +$9,718 |
| Step 3 | $39,587 | $3,299 | $1,523 | $18.97 | $29,556 | +$10,031 |
| Step 4 | $40,825 | $3,402 | $1,570 | $19.56 | $30,480 | +$10,345 |
| Step 5 | $42,063 | $3,505 | $1,618 | $20.15 | $31,404 | +$10,659 |
| Step 6 | $43,300 | $3,608 | $1,665 | $20.75 | $32,328 | +$10,972 |
| Step 7 | $44,538 | $3,712 | $1,713 | $21.34 | $33,252 | +$11,286 |
| Step 8 | $45,775 | $3,815 | $1,761 | $21.93 | $34,176 | +$11,599 |
| Step 9 | $47,013 | $3,918 | $1,808 | $22.53 | $35,100 | +$11,913 |
| Step 10 | $48,251 | $4,021 | $1,856 | $23.12 | $36,024 | +$12,227 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-3 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-2 to GS-3 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $4,750 per year.
GS-3 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-3 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $37,112 and $48,251 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-3 base pay of $27,708 to $36,024.
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-3 employee here earns $5,301 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-3 Step 1 in this area is $1,427, or approximately $17.78 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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