GS-1 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-1 base pay in 2026 runs from $22,584 (step 1) to $28,248 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $26,437 | $29,078 | $31,338 | $33,067 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $27,957 | $30,749 | $33,140 | $34,968 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $29,942 | $32,933 | $35,493 | $37,451 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $29,553 | $32,506 | $35,033 | $36,965 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $28,740 | $31,611 | $34,069 | $35,948 |
| Denver-Aurora | $29,477 | $32,421 | $34,942 | $36,869 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $30,488 | $33,534 | $36,141 | $38,135 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $30,820 | $33,899 | $36,534 | $38,550 |
| New York-Newark | $31,155 | $34,267 | $36,931 | $38,968 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $30,199 | $33,216 | $35,798 | $37,773 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $33,049 | $36,351 | $39,177 | $41,338 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $29,714 | $32,682 | $35,223 | $37,166 |
| Washington, DC | $30,249 | $33,271 | $35,857 | $37,835 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $1,163.42
- Monthly
- $2,520.75
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $14.49
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $21.74
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $983.07
2026 OPM tables: base schedule +1.0%, locality percentages unchanged from 2025. Take-home excludes FERS (0.8%–4.4%), TSP and FEHB deductions.
Other grades
GS-2 · GS-3 · GS-4 · GS-5 · GS-6 · GS-7 · GS-8 · GS-9 · GS-10 · GS-11 · GS-12 · GS-13 · GS-14 · GS-15
Frequently asked questions
How much does a GS-1 make in 2026?
$22,584 to $28,248 on the base schedule, plus locality pay from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 45% in San Jose–San Francisco.
How long between GS-1 steps?
Steps 1–4: one year each; steps 4–7: two years each; steps 7–10: three years each, assuming acceptable performance.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.