GS-15 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-15 base pay in 2026 runs from $126,384 (step 1) to $164,301 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $147,945 | $162,740 | $177,536 | $192,331 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $156,451 | $172,097 | $187,742 | $197,200 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $167,560 | $184,317 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $165,386 | $181,925 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $160,836 | $176,921 | $193,005 | $197,200 |
| Denver-Aurora | $164,956 | $181,453 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $170,618 | $187,681 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $172,476 | $189,725 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| New York-Newark | $174,347 | $191,782 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $169,001 | $185,902 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $184,950 | $197,200 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $166,283 | $182,913 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
| Washington, DC | $169,279 | $186,207 | $197,200 | $197,200 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $6,510.73
- Monthly
- $14,106.58
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $81.11
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $121.66
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $4,540.34
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-1 · 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
Frequently asked questions
How much does a GS-15 make in 2026?
$126,384 to $164,301 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-15 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.