How the GS Pay Scale Works (2026)
The GS scale sets pay for about 1.5 million federal white-collar workers. It has 15 grades. Each grade has 10 steps. Your grade shows how hard the job is. Your step shows how long you have served. Locality pay adjusts your pay for where you work. In 2026 the base schedule rose 1% (locality rates stayed frozen at 2025 levels). This guide shows how to read the table. It shows how to add locality pay. It shows how to earn step increases.
At a glance
- Cost:
- Free
- Total time:
- 20 minutes to understand your pay
- Steps:
- 7 steps
- Where to apply:
- opm.gov
Last reviewed October 2026 against official sources. Re-checked annually · next review due October 2027.
The Steps
Follow these in order
Each card shows the phase, expected time, and any cost. Data checked against official US sources(October 2026).
0 of 7 steps
- Before You Go 10 min
Learn the grade-and-step grid
The General Schedule has 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15). Each grade has 10 steps. The grade shows how difficult the job is. GS-5 is typical entry-level office work. GS-13 to GS-15 are senior professional and supervisory roles. The step shows your seniority in the grade. Everyone starts at step 1 and climbs toward step 10. Salary on a federal job announcement is always shown as a grade and step. For example, "GS-9, Step 1."
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 5 min
Check the 2026 pay figures
OPM's 2026 tables include a 1% General Schedule base-pay increase. It took effect in January 2026. Locality pay percentages were frozen at 2025 levels for 2026, so the raise comes only from the base schedule. Always use the 2026 tables, not older ones. A 2025 table understates your pay.
Click to mark as done
- Before You Go 10 min
Find your 2026 base salary
Look up your grade and step on the 2026 GS base table. This is before locality pay. Key 2026 figures: GS-1 Step 1 $22,584; GS-5 Step 1 $34,799 (Step 10 $45,239); GS-7 Step 1 $43,106; GS-9 Step 1 $52,727; GS-12 Step 1 $76,463; GS-13 Step 1 $90,925; GS-14 Step 1 $107,446; GS-15 Step 1 $126,384 (Step 10 $164,301). Each step is worth about 3% more than the one below it.
Click to mark as done
- Go 10 min
Add your locality pay
Almost everyone gets locality pay on top of base pay. It closes the gap with private-sector wages in your area. For 2026: Rest of U.S. is 17.06%, and Washington-Baltimore-Arlington is 33.94%, and OPM publishes a table for every locality area. Formula: total pay = base x (1 + locality %). Example: GS-5 Step 1 in the Rest of U.S. area = $34,799 x 1.1706 = $40,736.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up ongoing
Earn within-grade step increases
Steps are not automatic. They reward good performance plus time served. Waiting periods: 1 year at steps 1-3, 2 years at steps 4-6, 3 years at steps 7-9. So moving from step 6 to step 7 takes 2 years at step 6. At the normal pace, it takes 18 years to go from step 1 to step 10. Top performers can sometimes get a faster Quality Step Increase. They can get at most one per year.
Click to mark as done
- Follow Up 5 min
Know the pay cap
GS salaries cannot go above the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule. That rate is $197,200 in 2026. In high-locality areas, senior GS-15s at the top steps hit this cap. Their pay is limited to it.
Click to mark as done
- Receive ongoing
Plan grade promotions
The big raises come from grade promotions, not steps. Moving from GS-9 to GS-11 is a much larger jump than one step increase. Typical entry points: GS-5 with a bachelor's degree. GS-7 with superior grades or a year of graduate school. GS-9 with a master's. GS-12 and above need a year of specialized experience at the next lower grade. Are you thinking of applying? Start with the federal hiring process.
Click to mark as done
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a GS-15 make in 2026?
Base pay runs $126,384 (Step 1) to $164,301 (Step 10). This is before locality pay. With locality added, a GS-15 Step 1 in the DC area (33.94%) earns about $169,279, and top steps in high-locality areas are capped at $197,200.
How much does a GS-9 make in 2026?
Base pay runs $52,727 (Step 1) to $68,549 (Step 10), before locality pay. Add your locality percentage on top: in the Rest of U.S. area (17.06%), a GS-9 Step 1 earns about $61,722.
How long does it take to go from GS step 6 to step 7?
Two years (104 weeks) at step 6, with an acceptable performance rating. Steps 4, 5 and 6 each need a 2-year wait. The 3-year waits start at step 7.
How long does it take to go from step 1 to step 10?
Normally 18 years. It takes 3 years to reach step 4 (three 1-year waits). It takes 6 more years to reach step 7 (three 2-year waits). It takes 9 more years to reach step 10 (three 3-year waits). This assumes acceptable performance throughout.
What GS grade do I qualify for with a bachelor's degree?
Typically GS-5. You can qualify for GS-7 with superior academic achievement (or one full year of graduate study). A master's degree generally qualifies you for GS-9. From GS-12 up, only specialized experience counts. Degrees alone do not qualify you.
Does the GS scale cover all federal employees?
No. It covers about 1.5 million civilian white-collar workers. They work in professional, technical, administrative, and clerical roles. It does not cover military members. It does not cover the Senior Executive Service. It does not cover blue-collar Federal Wage System workers. It does not cover the Foreign Service. It does not cover Postal Service employees. Each of these has its own pay system.
What was the 2026 federal pay raise?
A 1% base-pay increase under the General Schedule, effective January 2026, with locality pay percentages frozen at 2025 levels.
Keep Reading