GS-1 Pay Scale 2026: Salary by Step and Locality

GS-1 · step 1 to 102026 · official

Base salary, step 1

$22,584/ year

Step 10 base$28,248

Step 1, Rest of U.S. (+17.06%)$26,437

Step 1, Washington, DC area (+33.94%)$30,249

Official2026 General Schedule: a 1.0% increase to the base table in January 2026, with locality percentages unchanged from 2025 (OPM 2026 salary tables).

Proposed2027: the President's alternative pay plan of August 2026 proposes no General Schedule increase for 2027. It becomes final with the pay order expected in December; until then the 2026 tables stay in force.

GS-1 base pay by step

Step	Annual	Hourly	Washington	New York	Los Angeles	San Jose	Houston	Rest of United States (Consisting of those portions of the United States and its territories and possessions as listed in 5 CFR 591.205 not located within another locality pay area.)
Step 1	$22,584	$10.82	$30,249	$31,155	$30,820	$33,049	$30,488	$26,437
Step 2	$23,341	$11.18	$31,263	$32,199	$31,853	$34,157	$31,510	$27,323
Step 3	$24,092	$11.54	$32,269	$33,235	$32,878	$35,256	$32,524	$28,202
Step 4	$24,840	$11.90	$33,271	$34,267	$33,899	$36,351	$33,534	$29,078
Step 5	$25,589	$12.26	$34,274	$35,300	$34,921	$37,447	$34,545	$29,954
Step 6	$26,028	$12.47	$34,862	$35,906	$35,520	$38,089	$35,138	$30,468
Step 7	$26,771	$12.83	$35,857	$36,931	$36,534	$39,177	$36,141	$31,338
Step 8	$27,519	$13.19	$36,859	$37,962	$37,555	$40,271	$37,151	$32,214
Step 9	$27,550	$13.20	$36,900	$38,005	$37,597	$40,317	$37,193	$32,250
Step 10	$28,248	$13.54	$37,835	$38,968	$38,550	$41,338	$38,135	$33,067

Annual salary in US dollars. Hourly = base hourly rate from OPM's 2026 table (2,087 hours a year), before locality pay. Locality columns: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (+33.94%); New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA (+37.95%); Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA (+36.47%); San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA (+46.34%); Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35%); Rest of United States (Consisting of those portions of the United States and its territories and possessions as listed in 5 CFR 591.205 not located within another locality pay area.) (+17.06%).

Source: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 General Schedule salary tables. Checked October 17, 2026. Unofficial copy for general information. Verify with OPM.

Who is paid at GS-1

GS-1 is the lowest grade, used for a small number of entry jobs that need no experience or high school diploma. Each grade has 10 steps; employees usually move up a step after 1, 2 or 3 years of acceptable work, depending on the step.

GS-1 pay in every locality area

Locality area	Locality	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA	46.34%	33,049	34,157	35,256	36,351	37,447	38,089	39,177	40,271	40,317	41,338
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA	37.95%	31,155	32,199	33,235	34,267	35,300	35,906	36,931	37,962	38,005	38,968
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA	36.47%	30,820	31,853	32,878	33,899	34,921	35,520	36,534	37,555	37,597	38,550
Houston-The Woodlands, TX	35%	30,488	31,510	32,524	33,534	34,545	35,138	36,141	37,151	37,193	38,135
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA	33.94%	30,249	31,263	32,269	33,271	34,274	34,862	35,857	36,859	36,900	37,835
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	33.72%	30,199	31,212	32,216	33,216	34,218	34,805	35,798	36,798	36,840	37,773
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT	32.58%	29,942	30,945	31,941	32,933	33,926	34,508	35,493	36,485	36,526	37,451
State of Alaska	32.36%	29,892	30,894	31,888	32,878	33,870	34,451	35,434	36,424	36,465	37,389
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA	32.08%	29,829	30,829	31,821	32,809	33,798	34,378	35,359	36,347	36,388	37,310
Seattle-Tacoma, WA	31.57%	29,714	30,710	31,698	32,682	33,667	34,245	35,223	36,207	36,248	37,166
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI	30.86%	29,553	30,544	31,527	32,506	33,486	34,060	35,033	36,011	36,052	36,965
Denver-Aurora, CO	30.52%	29,477	30,465	31,445	32,421	33,399	33,972	34,942	35,918	35,958	36,869
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV	29.76%	29,305	30,287	31,262	32,232	33,204	33,774	34,738	35,709	35,749	36,655
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI	29.12%	29,160	30,138	31,108	32,073	33,041	33,607	34,567	35,533	35,573	36,474
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD	28.99%	29,131	30,108	31,076	32,041	33,007	33,574	34,532	35,497	35,537	36,437
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI	27.62%	28,822	29,788	30,746	31,701	32,657	33,217	34,165	35,120	35,159	36,050
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK	27.26%	28,740	29,704	30,659	31,611	32,565	33,123	34,069	35,021	35,060	35,948
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA	26.13%	28,485	29,440	30,387	31,331	32,275	32,829	33,766	34,710	34,749	35,629
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL	24.67%	28,155	29,099	30,035	30,968	31,902	32,449	33,375	34,308	34,347	35,217
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL	23.79%	27,957	28,894	29,823	30,749	31,677	32,220	33,140	34,066	34,104	34,968
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ	22.45%	27,654	28,581	29,501	30,417	31,334	31,871	32,781	33,697	33,735	34,590
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI	22.42%	27,647	28,574	29,493	30,409	31,326	31,863	32,773	33,689	33,727	34,581
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY	22.41%	27,645	28,572	29,491	30,407	31,323	31,861	32,770	33,686	33,724	34,578
Richmond, VA	22.28%	27,616	28,541	29,460	30,374	31,290	31,827	32,736	33,650	33,688	34,542
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC	22.24%	27,607	28,532	29,450	30,364	31,280	31,817	32,725	33,639	33,677	34,530
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA	22.23%	27,604	28,530	29,448	30,362	31,277	31,814	32,722	33,636	33,674	34,528
State of Hawaii	22.21%	27,600	28,525	29,443	30,357	31,272	31,809	32,717	33,631	33,669	34,522
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH	22.15%	27,586	28,511	29,428	30,342	31,257	31,793	32,701	33,614	33,652	34,505
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN	21.93%	27,537	28,460	29,375	30,287	31,201	31,736	32,642	33,554	33,592	34,443
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN	21.91%	27,532	28,455	29,371	30,282	31,196	31,731	32,637	33,548	33,586	34,437
Laredo, TX	21.59%	27,460	28,380	29,293	30,203	31,114	31,647	32,551	33,460	33,498	34,347
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH	21.42%	27,421	28,341	29,253	30,161	31,070	31,603	32,505	33,414	33,451	34,299
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV	21.03%	27,333	28,250	29,159	30,064	30,970	31,502	32,401	33,306	33,344	34,189
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA	20.77%	27,275	28,189	29,096	29,999	30,904	31,434	32,331	33,235	33,272	34,115
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	20.35%	27,180	28,091	28,995	29,895	30,796	31,325	32,219	33,119	33,156	33,996
Colorado Springs, CO	20.15%	27,135	28,044	28,947	29,845	30,745	31,273	32,165	33,064	33,101	33,940
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL	20.03%	27,108	28,016	28,918	29,815	30,714	31,241	32,133	33,031	33,068	33,906
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC	19.67%	27,026	27,932	28,831	29,726	30,622	31,148	32,037	32,932	32,969	33,804
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ	19.57%	27,004	27,909	28,807	29,701	30,597	31,122	32,010	32,904	32,942	33,776
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT	19.45%	26,977	27,881	28,778	29,671	30,566	31,090	31,978	32,871	32,908	33,742
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA	19.43%	26,972	27,876	28,773	29,666	30,561	31,085	31,973	32,866	32,903	33,737
Tucson-Nogales, AZ	19.28%	26,938	27,841	28,737	29,629	30,523	31,046	31,932	32,825	32,862	33,694
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS	18.97%	26,868	27,769	28,662	29,552	30,443	30,966	31,849	32,739	32,776	33,607
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL	18.93%	26,859	27,759	28,653	29,542	30,433	30,955	31,839	32,728	32,765	33,595
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC	18.8%	26,830	27,729	28,621	29,510	30,400	30,921	31,804	32,693	32,729	33,559
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX	18.78%	26,825	27,724	28,616	29,505	30,395	30,916	31,799	32,687	32,724	33,553
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM	18.33%	26,724	27,619	28,508	29,393	30,279	30,799	31,678	32,563	32,600	33,426
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL	18.24%	26,703	27,598	28,486	29,371	30,256	30,776	31,654	32,538	32,575	33,400
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA	18.23%	26,701	27,596	28,484	29,368	30,254	30,773	31,651	32,536	32,572	33,398
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN	18.15%	26,683	27,577	28,465	29,348	30,233	30,752	31,630	32,514	32,550	33,375
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA	18.01%	26,651	27,545	28,431	29,314	30,198	30,716	31,592	32,475	32,512	33,335
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	17.93%	26,633	27,526	28,412	29,294	30,177	30,695	31,571	32,453	32,490	33,313
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY	17.88%	26,622	27,514	28,400	29,281	30,164	30,682	31,558	32,439	32,476	33,299
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID	17.67%	26,575	27,465	28,349	29,229	30,111	30,627	31,501	32,382	32,418	33,239
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA	17.65%	26,570	27,461	28,344	29,224	30,105	30,622	31,496	32,376	32,413	33,234
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX	17.63%	26,566	27,456	28,339	29,219	30,100	30,617	31,491	32,371	32,407	33,228
Reno-Fernley, NV	17.52%	26,541	27,430	28,313	29,192	30,072	30,588	31,461	32,340	32,377	33,197
Rest of United States (Consisting of those portions of the United States and its territories and possessions as listed in 5 CFR 591.205 not located within another locality pay area.)	17.06%	26,437	27,323	28,202	29,078	29,954	30,468	31,338	32,214	32,250	33,067

Sorted from the highest locality percentage to the lowest. Annual salary in US dollars. Source: OPM 2026 locality pay tables, opm.gov.

Unofficial estimates for general information only. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Your actual pay, allowances and benefits are set by OPM and your agency. Always verify with the official source.

Questions

How much does a GS-1 make in 2026?

The 2026 GS-1 base salary runs from $22,584 at step 1 to $28,248 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 is $26,437 in the Rest of U.S. area and $30,249 in the Washington, DC area.

What is the hourly rate for GS-1?

The 2026 base hourly rate for GS-1 is $10.82 at step 1 and $13.54 at step 10, before locality pay.

Will GS-1 pay go up in 2027?

The President's alternative pay plan of August 2026 proposes no General Schedule increase for 2027. The decision becomes final with the pay order expected in December 2026.

GS-1 Pay Scale 2026: Salary by Step and Locality

GS-1 base pay by step

Who is paid at GS-1

GS-1 pay in every locality area

Questions

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