About the GS Pay Calculator
This GS pay calculator looks up a federal employee’s 2026 General Schedule salary from the official OPM tables. Choose a grade from GS-1 to GS-15, a step from 1 to 10 and one of the 58 locality pay areas, and it returns the adjusted annual salary along with the hourly, biweekly and monthly equivalents and how much of your pay comes from locality pay.
It is useful for job seekers comparing USAJOBS postings in different cities, current employees planning a promotion or step increase, and anyone checking a Standard Form 50. The table underneath lists all ten steps for the chosen grade so you can see what a within-grade increase is worth.
Figures use the 2026 General Schedule, which reflects a 1% across-the-board increase effective in January 2026, and the 2026 locality percentages (from 17.06% for Rest of U.S. to 46.34% for San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland). Locality rates are rounded to the nearest dollar and capped at Executive Schedule level IV ($197,200). Special salary rates for certain occupations, law enforcement pay and non-GS systems are not included.
With the default inputs, the annual salary with locality pay is $74,678. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the gs pay calculator
- 1Pick your GS grade from the job announcement or SF-50.
- 2Pick your step (new hires usually start at step 1).
- 3Choose the locality pay area of the duty station.
- 4Read your annual salary and its hourly, biweekly and monthly equivalents.
- 5Use the step table to see what each within-grade increase adds.
Formula and method
Every GS position has a base rate set by grade and step in the General Schedule. A locality payment is added as a percentage of base pay, depending on where the duty station is; areas outside the 55 named metro areas, Alaska and Hawaii receive the Rest of U.S. rate. OPM rounds the locality-adjusted salary to the nearest whole dollar.
By law, locality-adjusted GS pay cannot exceed the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule, which is $197,200 in 2026, so some GS-14 and GS-15 steps in high-cost areas are capped. Hourly rates divide annual pay by 2,087 hours, the standard federal work year, and biweekly pay is 80 hours at that hourly rate.
- Base
- 2026 GS base rate for the grade and step
- L
- Locality payment percentage for the pay area
- 2,087
- Hours in the federal work year used to derive hourly pay
Worked examples
GS-11 step 1, Rest of U.S.
The 2026 GS-11 step 1 base is $63,795. Adding the 17.06% Rest of U.S. locality payment gives $74,678.43, rounded to $74,678. Dividing by 2,087 hours gives $35.78 an hour, or $2,862.40 per 80-hour pay period.
GS-13 step 5, Washington–Baltimore
GS-13 step 5 has a base of $103,049. The Washington–Baltimore locality payment is 33.94%, so salary is $103,049 × 1.3394 = $138,023.83, rounded to $138,024 — about $34,975 a year from locality pay.
GS-15 step 10, San Francisco (capped)
Uncapped, $164,301 × 1.4634 would be $240,438. Locality-adjusted GS pay cannot exceed Executive Schedule level IV, so the salary is limited to $197,200.
Frequently asked questions
How much did GS pay go up in 2026?+
The 2026 General Schedule includes a 1% across-the-board increase to base pay, effective the first pay period beginning on or after 1 January 2026. Locality percentages for 2026 range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland).
What is locality pay?+
Locality pay is a percentage added to GS base pay to reflect differences in non-federal pay between areas. It is set for each of 55 metro areas plus Alaska, Hawaii and a Rest of U.S. area (58 pay areas in all), and it counts as basic pay for retirement, TSP and life insurance.
How long does it take to move up a step?+
Within-grade increases require 52 weeks at steps 1–3, 104 weeks at steps 4–6 and 156 weeks at steps 7–9, provided performance is at an acceptable level. Reaching step 10 from step 1 normally takes 18 years.
Is there a maximum GS salary?+
Yes. Locality-adjusted GS pay is capped at the rate for Executive Schedule level IV, which is $197,200 in 2026. In high-cost areas such as San Francisco or New York, several GS-15 and some GS-14 steps pay exactly this cap.
How is GS hourly pay calculated?+
OPM divides the annual salary by 2,087 hours and rounds to the nearest cent. Biweekly pay for a full-time employee is 80 hours at that hourly rate, which is why 26 paychecks can add up to slightly more or less than the annual figure.
Does this include special rates or law enforcement pay?+
No. Some occupations (for example certain IT, engineering and medical roles) have special salary rate tables that pay more than locality rates, and law enforcement officers have their own GS-LEO tables. Check OPM’s special rates search for those positions.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.