GS-4 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-4 base pay in 2026 runs from $31,103 (step 1) to $40,436 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $36,409 | $40,051 | $43,693 | $47,334 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $38,502 | $42,354 | $46,205 | $50,056 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $41,236 | $45,361 | $49,485 | $53,610 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $40,701 | $44,772 | $48,843 | $52,915 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $39,582 | $43,541 | $47,500 | $51,459 |
| Denver-Aurora | $40,596 | $44,656 | $48,717 | $52,777 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $41,989 | $46,189 | $50,389 | $54,589 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $42,446 | $46,692 | $50,937 | $55,183 |
| New York-Newark | $42,907 | $47,198 | $51,490 | $55,781 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $41,591 | $45,751 | $49,911 | $54,071 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $45,516 | $50,069 | $54,621 | $59,174 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $40,922 | $45,015 | $49,109 | $53,202 |
| Washington, DC | $41,659 | $45,826 | $49,993 | $54,160 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $1,602.27
- Monthly
- $3,471.58
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $19.96
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $29.94
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $1,310.45
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-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-4 make in 2026?
$31,103 to $40,436 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-4 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.