GS-6 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-6 base pay in 2026 runs from $38,791 (step 1) to $50,428 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $45,409 | $49,950 | $54,490 | $59,031 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $48,019 | $52,821 | $57,623 | $62,425 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $51,429 | $56,572 | $61,715 | $66,857 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $50,762 | $55,838 | $60,914 | $65,990 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $49,365 | $54,302 | $59,238 | $64,175 |
| Denver-Aurora | $50,630 | $55,693 | $60,756 | $65,819 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $52,368 | $57,605 | $62,841 | $68,078 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $52,938 | $58,232 | $63,525 | $68,819 |
| New York-Newark | $53,512 | $58,863 | $64,214 | $69,565 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $51,871 | $57,058 | $62,245 | $67,432 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $56,767 | $62,443 | $68,120 | $73,796 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $51,037 | $56,141 | $61,245 | $66,348 |
| Washington, DC | $51,957 | $57,152 | $62,348 | $67,543 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $1,998.35
- Monthly
- $4,329.75
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $24.90
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $37.35
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $1,605.92
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-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-6 make in 2026?
$38,791 to $50,428 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-6 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.