2026 GS Pay Scale in San Diego
Locality-adjusted federal General Schedule salaries for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA pay area. Base rates plus the 33.72% San Diego locality adjustment, effective January 2026.
🏛️ Source: Base rates from U.S. OPM Salary Table 2026-GS; the 33.72% locality adjustment is the official 2026 rate for the San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA area. Public government record.
33.72%
Locality adjustment
$102,246
GS-12 Step 1 here
$121,585
GS-13 Step 1 here
$219,703
GS-15 Step 10 (top)
2026 GS pay table for San Diego (Step 1, 5, 10)
Locality-adjusted salaries by grade. Every grade has 10 steps; entry, mid, and top shown.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $30,199 | $34,218 | $37,773 |
| GS-2 | $33,956 | $37,252 | $42,728 |
| GS-3 | $37,051 | $41,993 | $48,171 |
| GS-4 | $41,591 | $47,138 | $54,071 |
| GS-5 | $46,533 | $52,738 | $60,494 |
| GS-6 | $51,871 | $58,787 | $67,432 |
| GS-7 | $57,641 | $65,328 | $74,935 |
| GS-8 | $63,835 | $72,345 | $82,983 |
| GS-9 | $70,507 | $79,910 | $91,664 |
| GS-10 | $77,643 | $87,993 | $100,931 |
| GS-11 | $85,307 | $96,684 | $110,905 |
| GS-12 | $102,246 | $115,880 | $132,923 |
| GS-13 | $121,585 | $137,797 | $158,062 |
| GS-14 | $143,677 | $162,836 | $186,785 |
| GS-15 | $169,001 | $191,535 | $219,703 |
Take-home pay in San Diego after taxes
Estimated take-home on the locality-adjusted salary (single filer, federal tax + Social Security + Medicare; CA state tax varies and is not included here):
| Grade / Step | Salary | Take-home (no state) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 Step 1 | $46,533 | ~$39,373 | ~$3,281 |
| GS-7 Step 1 | $57,641 | ~$48,299 | ~$4,025 |
| GS-9 Step 1 | $70,507 | ~$57,761 | ~$4,813 |
| GS-11 Step 1 | $85,307 | ~$68,172 | ~$5,681 |
| GS-12 Step 1 | $102,246 | ~$80,089 | ~$6,674 |
| GS-13 Step 1 | $121,585 | ~$93,565 | ~$7,797 |
Take-home excludes state/local income tax (California has high state tax, which would lower these), FERS retirement, and TSP. Use our after-tax calculator for a full picture.
See your exact San Diego take-home
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