2026 GS Pay Scale (Federal General Schedule)
The official 2026 base salary table for U.S. federal civilian employees, by grade (GS-1 to GS-15) and step. Incorporates the 1% General Schedule increase effective January 2026.
2026 GS base pay table (Step 1, 5, and 10)
Showing the entry (Step 1), mid (Step 5), and top (Step 10) of each grade. Every grade has 10 steps; the full table is on OPM.gov.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $25,589 | $28,248 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $27,858 | $31,953 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $31,404 | $36,024 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $35,251 | $40,436 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $39,439 | $45,239 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $43,963 | $50,428 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $48,854 | $56,039 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $54,102 | $62,057 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $59,759 | $68,549 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $65,804 | $75,479 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $72,303 | $82,938 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $86,659 | $99,404 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $103,049 | $118,204 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $121,774 | $139,684 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $143,236 | $164,301 |
How locality pay changes your salary
The table above is base pay. Every federal employee also gets a locality adjustment based on their duty station — a percentage added on top. There are 58 locality areas plus a "Rest of U.S." rate.
| Locality (2026) | Adjustment | GS-12 Step 1 actual |
|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | ~17.1% | ~$89,538 |
| Atlanta | ~23.0% | ~$94,050 |
| Denver | ~30.5% | ~$99,784 |
| New York | ~37.0% | ~$104,754 |
| San Francisco | ~45.4% | ~$111,177 |
Locality percentages are approximate 2026 values and change annually. Actual pay = base rate × (1 + locality %).
See the full locality-adjusted table for major metros:
GS take-home pay after taxes
Estimated take-home on the base salary (single filer, federal tax + Social Security + Medicare; state tax varies by duty station and is not included here):
| Grade / Step | Base salary | Take-home (no state) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 Step 1 | $34,799 | ~$29,900 | ~$2,495 |
| GS-7 Step 1 | $43,106 | ~$36,600 | ~$3,052 |
| GS-9 Step 1 | $52,727 | ~$44,400 | ~$3,696 |
| GS-11 Step 1 | $63,795 | ~$53,000 | ~$4,420 |
| GS-12 Step 1 | $76,463 | ~$62,000 | ~$5,163 |
| GS-13 Step 1 | $90,925 | ~$72,100 | ~$6,010 |
Take-home is on base pay only; adding locality pay raises both gross and net. Federal employees also contribute to FERS retirement (0.8%-4.4%) and can contribute to the TSP. Add your state's tax for a full picture.
See your exact federal take-home
Add your locality pay, state, and deductions for a personalized net pay estimate.
Try the calculator →Common GS jobs and their typical grade
The GS scale covers most white-collar federal jobs — over 70% of federal civilian employees, across hundreds of occupational series. Here are common job titles and the grade range they typically fall into:
| Field | Example job titles | Typical grade |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative | Program Analyst, Management Analyst, HR Specialist, Admin Officer | GS-9 to GS-13 |
| Finance & audit | Accountant, Auditor, Budget Analyst, Economist, IRS Revenue Agent | GS-7 to GS-13 |
| Law & security | FBI Special Agent, Border Patrol Agent, Intelligence Analyst, Attorney | GS-10 to GS-15 |
| STEM / tech | Engineer, IT Specialist, Data Scientist, Chemist, Biologist | GS-7 to GS-14 |
| Health | Nurse, Medical Technologist, Social Worker, Public Health Analyst | GS-7 to GS-13 |
| Clerical / support | Office Assistant, Records Technician, Customer Service Rep | GS-3 to GS-7 |
| Field / resource | Park Ranger, Wildlife Biologist, Customs Officer, Inspector | GS-5 to GS-12 |
These are typical ranges, not rules — the actual grade depends on the position's duties, the hiring agency, and your education/experience. Entry professional roles often start at GS-5 or GS-7; a master's degree can qualify you to start at GS-9. Blue-collar federal trades (mechanics, electricians, laborers) use the separate Federal Wage System (FWS), not the GS scale.
How GS grades and steps work
- Grade (GS-1 to GS-15): reflects job level and responsibility. Entry professional jobs often start at GS-5 or GS-7; a master's degree can start at GS-9.
- Steps (1-10): within a grade, you advance through steps by time in service (steps 1-3 yearly, 4-6 every 2 years, 7-9 every 3 years) plus performance.
- Locality pay: added on top of base, based on duty station.
- Above GS-15: senior roles use the Senior Executive Service (SES) pay system instead.