GS Pay Scale 2026 – The GS Pay Scale, or General Schedule, is the primary pay system for federal civilian employees in the United States. It covers over 1.5 million workers across various agencies, excluding military personnel and certain specialized roles. For 2026, the GS pay scale features a modest 1% across-the-board increase in base pay, with locality adjustments remaining unchanged from 2025 levels. This results in an overall average pay raise of about 1% for most employees, though certain law enforcement personnel receive a higher boost.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the 2026 GS pay scale, including base salaries, locality pay, calculation methods, and key changes. Whether you’re a current federal employee, job seeker, or simply curious about government compensation, this article provides everything you need to know about General Schedule salaries in 2026.
What Is the General Schedule (GS) Pay System?
The General Schedule is a standardized pay structure established by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to ensure fair and consistent compensation for federal workers. It divides jobs into 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15) based on difficulty, responsibility, and required qualifications. Each grade has 10 steps, allowing for progression through experience and performance.
- Grades: Entry-level positions start at GS-1 or GS-2, while senior roles reach GS-15. Higher grades require more education or expertise— for example, GS-5 often needs a bachelor’s degree, and GS-13+ roles involve leadership.
- Steps: Employees advance steps within their grade, typically every 1-3 years, adding about 3% to their salary per step.
- Annual Adjustments: The GS base pay is updated yearly based on economic factors, with additional locality pay for high-cost areas.
The system promotes transparency and equity, making it easier for agencies to recruit talent nationwide.
Key Changes in the 2026 GS Pay Scale
The 2026 adjustments were finalized via an executive order in December 2025, effective January 11, 2026—the start of the first pay period after January 1. Here’s what’s new:
- Base Pay Increase: A 1% across-the-board raise applies to the GS base schedule, reflecting adjustments for cost-of-living and private-sector wage changes.
- Locality Pay: Percentages stay at 2025 levels, meaning no additional boosts for geographic adjustments. There are 59 locality pay areas, covering major metro regions, entire states like Alaska and Hawaii, and a “Rest of U.S.” category for everywhere else.
- Special Provisions for Law Enforcement: General Schedule law enforcement officers (LEOs) at grades GS-3 through GS-10 receive an additional 2.8% increase on top of the 1% base, totaling 3.8%. This applies to special base rates and aims to address recruitment challenges.
- Pay Caps: Salaries are capped at the Executive Schedule Level IV rate of $197,200, with higher limits for some senior positions under certified performance systems.
These changes ensure federal pay remains competitive, though the modest raise has sparked discussions among employee groups about keeping pace with inflation.
2026 GS Base Pay Table
The base pay table forms the foundation of all GS salaries before locality adjustments. Below is the full 2026 General Schedule base payscale, incorporating the 1% increase. Rates are annual and effective January 2026.
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $23,341 | $24,092 | $24,840 | $25,589 | $26,028 | $26,771 | $27,519 | $27,550 | $28,248 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $25,997 | $26,839 | $27,550 | $27,858 | $28,677 | $29,496 | $30,315 | $31,134 | $31,953 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $28,632 | $29,556 | $30,480 | $31,404 | $32,328 | $33,252 | $34,176 | $35,100 | $36,024 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $32,140 | $33,177 | $34,214 | $35,251 | $36,288 | $37,325 | $38,362 | $39,399 | $40,436 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $35,959 | $37,119 | $38,279 | $39,439 | $40,599 | $41,759 | $42,919 | $44,079 | $45,239 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $40,084 | $41,377 | $42,670 | $43,963 | $45,256 | $46,549 | $47,842 | $49,135 | $50,428 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $44,543 | $45,980 | $47,417 | $48,854 | $50,291 | $51,728 | $53,165 | $54,602 | $56,039 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $49,329 | $50,920 | $52,511 | $54,102 | $55,693 | $57,284 | $58,875 | $60,466 | $62,057 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $54,485 | $56,243 | $58,001 | $59,759 | $61,517 | $63,275 | $65,033 | $66,791 | $68,549 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $59,999 | $61,934 | $63,869 | $65,804 | $67,739 | $69,674 | $71,609 | $73,544 | $75,479 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $65,922 | $68,049 | $70,176 | $72,303 | $74,430 | $76,557 | $78,684 | $80,811 | $82,938 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $79,012 | $81,561 | $84,110 | $86,659 | $89,208 | $91,757 | $94,306 | $96,855 | $99,404 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $93,956 | $96,987 | $100,018 | $103,049 | $106,080 | $109,111 | $112,142 | $115,173 | $118,204 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $111,028 | $114,610 | $118,192 | $121,774 | $125,356 | $128,938 | $132,520 | $136,102 | $139,684 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $130,597 | $134,810 | $139,023 | $143,236 | $147,449 | $151,662 | $155,875 | $160,088 | $164,301 |
Note: These are base rates before locality. Actual pay varies by location and other factors like overtime or bonuses.
Understanding Locality Pay in 2026
Locality pay accounts for regional cost-of-living differences, added as a percentage to base salary. In 2026, percentages range from about 17% to over 46%, depending on the area. Higher-cost cities receive larger adjustments to attract talent.
Here are examples of 2026 locality pay percentages:
- San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA: 46.34% (one of the highest, reflecting tech-hub living costs)
- New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA: 37.95%
- Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA: 33.94%
- Rest of U.S.: 17.06% (applies to areas not in a specific locality)
To find your area, check OPM’s locality pay map or calculator. Employees in foreign areas or certain territories may qualify for cost-of-living allowances instead.
How to Calculate Your 2026 GS Salary?
Calculating your pay is straightforward:
- Identify Your Grade and Step: Based on your position and tenure.
- Find Base Pay: Use the table above.
- Add Locality: Multiply base by (1 + locality percentage). For example, a GS-9 Step 5 in San Francisco: $59,759 × (1 + 0.4634) ≈ $87,464.
- Factor in Specials: If applicable, include LEO rates or other supplements.
Use OPM’s online salary calculator for precise figures, including biweekly estimates.
Special Rates and Considerations for LEOs
Beyond standard GS, OPM authorizes special rates for hard-to-fill jobs in specific locations or occupations. In 2026, LEOs benefit from enhanced base rates and the additional 2.8% adjustment, helping agencies like the FBI or Border Patrol retain staff.
Senior Executive Service (SES) and other high-level roles have separate caps, with minimums adjusted to $151,661.
Final Thoughts on the 2026 GS Pay Scale
The 2026 General Schedule offers stability with a 1% base increase, maintaining locality pay to address regional disparities. While not a dramatic raise, it supports federal workforce retention amid economic challenges. For the latest updates, consult official OPM resources. If you’re considering a federal career, the GS system provides predictable growth and benefits like health insurance and retirement contributions.
Stay informed about future adjustments, as proposals for 2027 could bring further changes based on economic data.