GS Pay Scale 2026 With Locality Pay – The General Schedule (GS) pay scale for 2026 provides the salary structure for over 1.5 million federal civilian employees in the United States. Effective January 2026 (first pay period on or after January 11, 2026), the GS system features a 1% across-the-board increase to base pay rates, with no changes to locality pay percentages from 2025 levels.
This results in an overall average pay increase of 1% for most GS employees. The adjustment, finalized by executive order from President Trump in December 2025, applies the full increase to the base GS table while keeping locality adjustments frozen. Official 2026 GS pay tables and locality rates come from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Key Highlights of the 2026 GS Pay Raise
- Base Pay Increase — 1% applied to the General Schedule base rates.
- Locality Pay — Remains unchanged from 2025 percentages (e.g., no additional boost beyond the base increase).
- Overall Impact — Most employees see a 1% total raise, though effective increases vary slightly by locality due to how the base adjustment interacts with fixed locality percentages.
- Special Notes — Certain law enforcement officers (LEOs) may qualify for higher adjustments (up to 3.8% in some cases), and special rate tables may apply higher pays in specific occupations or areas.
- Pay Cap — GS rates are capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200 in 2026 in high-locality areas).
The GS scale includes 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15), each with 10 steps. Actual salary = Base pay for grade/step + Locality percentage adjustment.
2026 Locality Pay Areas and Percentages
There are 57 designated locality pay areas (including state-wide areas for Alaska and Hawaii, major metropolitan areas, and the “Rest of U.S.” catch-all). Locality percentages for 2026 remain the same as 2025. Here are some key examples from official OPM data:
- San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA → Highest at approximately 45-46% (exact 2025 rate carried over).
- Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA → 33.94%.
- New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA → Around 33-37%.
- Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA → Around 35%.
- Rest of U.S. (RUS) → 17.06% (applies to areas not in a specific locality).
- Alaska → Around 31-32%.
- Hawaii → Around 21-22%.
For the complete list of all 57 locality areas and exact percentages, visit the official OPM 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions and pay tables at opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/.
How to Find Your 2026 GS Salary
- Determine your GS grade and step (based on position and performance).
- Look up the 2026 base pay from the OPM GS base table.
- Add your locality percentage (unchanged from 2025).
- Use OPM’s official GS Salary Calculator for precise figures: opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule-gs-salary-calculator/.
Example 2026 Salaries (Approximate, Rest of U.S. Locality at 17.06%)
- GS-5, Step 1 → Around $35,000–$40,000 (base + locality).
- GS-11, Step 1 → Around $70,000–$80,000.
- GS-15, Step 10 → Near the pay cap of $197,200 in high-locality areas.
For detailed grade/step tables in your specific locality, refer directly to OPM’s 2026 pay tables.
This modest 1% adjustment reflects fiscal priorities, contrasting with higher raises in recent years (e.g., 2.0% average in 2025). Federal employees should check agency HR resources for personal impacts, including within-grade increases, promotions, or special rates.
Sources: U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM.gov), FederalPay.org summaries of OPM data, and official executive orders (December 2025). Always verify with OPM for the most current official tables.