GS-3 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-3 base pay in 2026 runs from $27,708 (step 1) to $36,024 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $32,435 | $35,680 | $38,925 | $42,170 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $34,300 | $37,731 | $41,163 | $44,594 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $36,735 | $40,410 | $44,086 | $47,761 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $36,259 | $39,886 | $43,514 | $47,141 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $35,261 | $38,789 | $42,316 | $45,844 |
| Denver-Aurora | $36,164 | $39,782 | $43,401 | $47,019 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $37,406 | $41,148 | $44,890 | $48,632 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $37,813 | $41,596 | $45,379 | $49,162 |
| New York-Newark | $38,223 | $42,047 | $45,871 | $49,695 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $37,051 | $40,758 | $44,465 | $48,171 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $40,548 | $44,604 | $48,661 | $52,718 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $36,455 | $40,103 | $43,750 | $47,397 |
| Washington, DC | $37,112 | $40,825 | $44,538 | $48,251 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $1,427.38
- Monthly
- $3,092.67
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $17.78
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $26.67
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $1,179.99
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-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-3 make in 2026?
$27,708 to $36,024 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-3 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.