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GS Pay Scale Explained
The General Schedule (GS) pay scale covers roughly 1.5 million federal white-collar employees. Understanding how grades, steps, and locality pay interact is essential to interpreting federal salary data. This guide walks through every component, from GS-1 to GS-15, with real numbers from the 2026 pay tables.
Source: OPM GS Pay Tables 2026 · OPM FedScope (March 2025) · 7 min read OPM GS Pay Tables 2026 · OPM FedScope (March 2025) · 7 min read
GS Grades 1–15 at a Glance
The table below shows 2026 base pay (before locality adjustments) for Step 1 and Step 10 of each grade, along with typical job levels at that grade.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $28,248 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $31,953 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $36,024 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $40,436 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $45,239 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $50,428 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $56,039 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $62,057 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $68,549 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $75,479 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $82,938 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $99,404 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $118,204 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $139,684 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $164,301 |
Base pay only, locality supplements not included. Source: OPM 2026 General Schedule Pay Tables.
Where the base-pay table above shows the schedule, this shows what GS employees actually earn on average, from $34,623 at GS-1 up to $186,965 at the top grade, reflecting step progression and locality pay.
How Steps Work Within a Grade
Steps represent progress within a grade and are earned through time in service and satisfactory performance. There is no competition for step increases, they are granted automatically if you meet the time requirement and receive an acceptable performance rating.
Steps alone are worth far more at higher grades: a GS-1 gains $5,664 from step 1 to step 10, while a GS-15 gains $37,917 - so the longer you stay in a higher grade, the more each step compounds, before any promotion or locality pay.
Step Advancement Timeline
Each step increase adds approximately 3% to your salary. Moving from Step 1 to Step 10 within the same grade increases your pay by roughly 30%. An employee who starts at GS-12, Step 1 and never gets promoted will reach GS-12, Step 10 after approximately 18 years of satisfactory service.
How to Read a GS Pay Table
OPM publishes pay tables for each locality area annually. Here is how to navigate them:
- Find your locality area. OPM lists 54 pay areas. Find yours on the OPM locality pay tables page. If your duty station is not in a named metro area, you are in "Rest of US" (RUS).
- Locate your grade row. The left column lists grades 1–15. Find your grade. The numbers in that row are your annual salary for Steps 1 through 10.
- Identify your current step. The columns across the top are Steps 1–10. Find the intersection of your grade and step, that is your annual salary including locality pay.
- Calculate your hourly rate. Divide annual salary by 2,087 (the standard OPM work hours per year). A GS-12, Step 5 in Washington DC at ~$115,000 annual pay earns approximately $55.10/hour.
What Determines Your GS Grade?
Grade is determined by the position, not the person. OPM uses a Position Classification system where HR specialists evaluate each job against established standards. Key factors that drive grade level:
- Knowledge required: Jobs requiring professional knowledge (law, medicine, engineering, accounting) typically grade out at GS-9 or above. Entry-level administrative work typically starts at GS-5.
- Complexity and scope: Work affecting broader programs or requiring independent judgment grades higher than routine, step-by-step tasks.
- Supervisory responsibility: First-line supervision typically adds one to two grades. Section chiefs and division directors typically sit at GS-13 to GS-15.
- Personal contacts and impact: Positions requiring senior external contacts (Congress, foreign governments, major contractors) grade higher than internal-only roles.
Career ladder positions are common, a GS-9/11/12 ladder means you are hired at GS-9 and are expected to develop to GS-12 over time, with non-competitive promotions at each step as you meet performance requirements.
What FedScope Shows About GS Distribution
OPM FedScope data for March 2025 reveals the actual distribution of federal employees across GS grades. Notable patterns:
- GS-12 and GS-13 are the largest grades by employee count, reflecting the mid-career concentration of the federal workforce and the widespread use of GS-9/11/12 career ladder positions that top out at GS-12.
- GS-1 through GS-4 are very small - entry-level clerical positions have declined as agencies automate administrative functions and hire at higher starting grades.
- Average step within each grade skews toward Steps 5–8, suggesting a workforce with significant tenure at each grade before promotion or retirement.
See the full 2026 GS base pay table - every grade and step in dollars, alongside the live employee counts and average salary at each grade on our GS pay grades page.
2026 GS Base Pay, Step 1 and Step 10 by Grade
The General Schedule base table is the starting point for every GS salary calculation. Step 1 is the floor for a newly-promoted employee at that grade; Step 10 is the ceiling reached only after years of within-grade increases or a quality step increase. Locality pay is then added on top of these base figures, ranging from roughly 17% in the Rest-of-US locality to over 45% in the highest-cost metropolitan areas.
| Grade | Step 1 (Base) | Step 10 (Base) | Typical Role Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $45,239 | Entry, associate's degree |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $56,039 | Entry, bachelor's degree |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $68,549 | Career-ladder mid-level |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $82,938 | Journeyman, master's-equivalent |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $99,404 | Senior specialist |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $118,204 | Team lead, senior expert |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $139,684 | Branch chief, GS-14 ladder |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $164,301 | Division director (pre-SES) |
A GS-13 Step 1 in the Washington DC locality area earns roughly $121,785 once the 2026 DC locality adjustment (33.94%, frozen at the 2025 rate) is layered on the base. A GS-13 Step 1 in the San Francisco locality (46.34%) reaches roughly $133,060. Same grade, same step, same job description, locality alone produces an $11,300 spread. This is why "GS-13" alone does not describe a salary.
Finance Disclaimer
Pay figures in this guide are based on the 2026 OPM General Schedule pay tables and are provided for educational purposes only. Actual pay may differ based on locality area, agency pay system, special rate tables, or other OPM adjustments. Verify current rates at opm.gov before making employment decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GS pay scale?
The General Schedule (GS) is the primary pay scale for white-collar federal civilian employees in the United States. Established by Congress, it uses 15 pay grades (GS-1 through GS-15), each with 10 steps. Pay tables are published annually by OPM and take effect in January. For 2026, GS base pay ranges from $22,584 (GS-1, Step 1) to $164,301 (GS-15, Step 10) before locality adjustments.
How do GS steps work?
Within each GS grade, there are 10 steps. Step 1 is the starting rate; Step 10 is the maximum for that grade. Employees typically advance one step every 1–3 years depending on their current step range: Steps 1–3 advance after 1 year of service, Steps 4–6 after 2 years, and Steps 7–9 after 3 years. Employees can also receive Within-Grade Increases (WGIs) if they receive a satisfactory performance rating. There is no automatic advancement between grades, that requires a promotion.
How is a GS grade determined for a job?
OPM uses a Position Classification system to assign grades. Classifiers evaluate each position against OPM's Factor Evaluation System, assessing complexity, scope, impact, required knowledge, supervision level, and personal contacts. The grade reflects the difficulty and responsibility of the work, not the qualifications of the individual. A new employee hired into a GS-12 position starts at GS-12, Step 1 regardless of their prior experience (though agencies may grant credit for experience via a higher step upon hire).
How do locality adjustments affect my GS pay?
Locality pay is a geographic supplement added to base GS pay to reflect local labor market costs. OPM sets 53 locality pay areas; the 2026 percentages are unchanged from 2025 (locality rates were frozen by executive order, only the base table increased 1%). The supplement ranges from 17.06% (Rest of US) to 46.34% (San Jose-San Francisco). So a GS-12, Step 5 earns $86,659 base pay in 2026, but takes home roughly $126,800 in San Francisco and roughly $116,100 in Washington DC (33.94% locality) after locality. Locality pay is included in all salary figures shown on PlainGovJobs.
Can I start at a step higher than Step 1?
Yes. Agencies have discretion to grant a Superior Qualifications and Special Needs Pay Rate, allowing a new hire to start at any step from 1–10 within their grade if the candidate has exceptional qualifications or the agency has a staffing need. This is called a "step increase above the minimum." The agency must document the justification. It is more common at GS-12 and above, especially for hard-to-fill technical positions.
What is the highest salary a GS employee can earn?
The highest base GS pay is GS-15, Step 10 - $164,301 for 2026 (before locality). With the highest locality supplement (San Francisco, 46.34%), the maximum GS pay reaches approximately $240,438. However, the Executive Schedule Level IV cap ($197,200 for 2026) prevents most GS-15 employees from receiving the full locality supplement, their pay is capped at $197,200 regardless of locality area.
Explore PlainGovJobs Data
Data sources: OPM 2026 GS Pay Tables, OPM FedScope (March 2025). Pay figures reflect base pay before locality adjustments unless otherwise noted.
PlainGovJobs is rendered directly from OPM FedScope federal-workforce data, figures are sourced from published program rules and verified against primary sources. This guide explains the GS pay scale, informed by official OPM data and program rules. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.