GS-3 Pay Scale 2026: Salary by Step and Locality
GS-3 · step 1 to 102026 · official
Base salary, step 1
$27,708/ year
Step 10 base$36,024
Step 1, Rest of U.S. (+17.06%)$32,435
Step 1, Washington, DC area (+33.94%)$37,112
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-3 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 | $27,708 | $13.28 | $37,112 | $38,223 | $37,813 | $40,548 | $37,406 | $32,435 |
| Step 2 | $28,632 | $13.72 | $38,350 | $39,498 | $39,074 | $41,900 | $38,653 | $33,517 |
| Step 3 | $29,556 | $14.16 | $39,587 | $40,773 | $40,335 | $43,252 | $39,901 | $34,598 |
| Step 4 | $30,480 | $14.60 | $40,825 | $42,047 | $41,596 | $44,604 | $41,148 | $35,680 |
| Step 5 | $31,404 | $15.05 | $42,063 | $43,322 | $42,857 | $45,957 | $42,395 | $36,762 |
| Step 6 | $32,328 | $15.49 | $43,300 | $44,596 | $44,118 | $47,309 | $43,643 | $37,843 |
| Step 7 | $33,252 | $15.93 | $44,538 | $45,871 | $45,379 | $48,661 | $44,890 | $38,925 |
| Step 8 | $34,176 | $16.38 | $45,775 | $47,146 | $46,640 | $50,013 | $46,138 | $40,006 |
| Step 9 | $35,100 | $16.82 | $47,013 | $48,420 | $47,901 | $51,365 | $47,385 | $41,088 |
| Step 10 | $36,024 | $17.26 | $48,251 | $49,695 | $49,162 | $52,718 | $48,632 | $42,170 |
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-3
GS-3 is common for clerks, assistants and student trainees with some experience or one year of college. 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-3 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% | 40,548 | 41,900 | 43,252 | 44,604 | 45,957 | 47,309 | 48,661 | 50,013 | 51,365 | 52,718 |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | 38,223 | 39,498 | 40,773 | 42,047 | 43,322 | 44,596 | 45,871 | 47,146 | 48,420 | 49,695 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | 37,813 | 39,074 | 40,335 | 41,596 | 42,857 | 44,118 | 45,379 | 46,640 | 47,901 | 49,162 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35% | 37,406 | 38,653 | 39,901 | 41,148 | 42,395 | 43,643 | 44,890 | 46,138 | 47,385 | 48,632 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | 37,112 | 38,350 | 39,587 | 40,825 | 42,063 | 43,300 | 44,538 | 45,775 | 47,013 | 48,251 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | 37,051 | 38,287 | 39,522 | 40,758 | 41,993 | 43,229 | 44,465 | 45,700 | 46,936 | 48,171 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | 36,735 | 37,960 | 39,185 | 40,410 | 41,635 | 42,860 | 44,086 | 45,311 | 46,536 | 47,761 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | 36,674 | 37,897 | 39,120 | 40,343 | 41,566 | 42,789 | 44,012 | 45,235 | 46,458 | 47,681 |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 32.08% | 36,597 | 37,817 | 39,038 | 40,258 | 41,478 | 42,699 | 43,919 | 45,140 | 46,360 | 47,580 |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | 36,455 | 37,671 | 38,887 | 40,103 | 41,318 | 42,534 | 43,750 | 44,965 | 46,181 | 47,397 |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | 36,259 | 37,468 | 38,677 | 39,886 | 41,095 | 42,304 | 43,514 | 44,723 | 45,932 | 47,141 |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | 36,164 | 37,370 | 38,576 | 39,782 | 40,989 | 42,195 | 43,401 | 44,607 | 45,813 | 47,019 |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | 35,954 | 37,153 | 38,352 | 39,551 | 40,750 | 41,949 | 43,148 | 44,347 | 45,546 | 46,745 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | 35,777 | 36,970 | 38,163 | 39,356 | 40,549 | 41,742 | 42,935 | 44,128 | 45,321 | 46,514 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | 35,741 | 36,932 | 38,124 | 39,316 | 40,508 | 41,700 | 42,892 | 44,084 | 45,275 | 46,467 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | 35,361 | 36,540 | 37,719 | 38,899 | 40,078 | 41,257 | 42,436 | 43,615 | 44,795 | 45,974 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | 35,261 | 36,437 | 37,613 | 38,789 | 39,965 | 41,141 | 42,316 | 43,492 | 44,668 | 45,844 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | 34,948 | 36,114 | 37,279 | 38,444 | 39,610 | 40,775 | 41,941 | 43,106 | 44,272 | 45,437 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | 34,544 | 35,696 | 36,847 | 37,999 | 39,151 | 40,303 | 41,455 | 42,607 | 43,759 | 44,911 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | 34,300 | 35,444 | 36,587 | 37,731 | 38,875 | 40,019 | 41,163 | 42,306 | 43,450 | 44,594 |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 22.45% | 33,928 | 35,060 | 36,191 | 37,323 | 38,454 | 39,586 | 40,717 | 41,849 | 42,980 | 44,111 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 22.42% | 33,920 | 35,051 | 36,182 | 37,314 | 38,445 | 39,576 | 40,707 | 41,838 | 42,969 | 44,101 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | 33,917 | 35,048 | 36,179 | 37,311 | 38,442 | 39,573 | 40,704 | 41,835 | 42,966 | 44,097 |
| Richmond, VA | 22.28% | 33,881 | 35,011 | 36,141 | 37,271 | 38,401 | 39,531 | 40,661 | 41,790 | 42,920 | 44,050 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 22.24% | 33,870 | 35,000 | 36,129 | 37,259 | 38,388 | 39,518 | 40,647 | 41,777 | 42,906 | 44,036 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 22.23% | 33,867 | 34,997 | 36,126 | 37,256 | 38,385 | 39,515 | 40,644 | 41,773 | 42,903 | 44,032 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | 33,862 | 34,991 | 36,120 | 37,250 | 38,379 | 39,508 | 40,637 | 41,766 | 42,896 | 44,025 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 22.15% | 33,845 | 34,974 | 36,103 | 37,231 | 38,360 | 39,489 | 40,617 | 41,746 | 42,875 | 44,003 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 21.93% | 33,784 | 34,911 | 36,038 | 37,164 | 38,291 | 39,418 | 40,544 | 41,671 | 42,797 | 43,924 |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 21.91% | 33,779 | 34,905 | 36,032 | 37,158 | 38,285 | 39,411 | 40,538 | 41,664 | 42,790 | 43,917 |
| Laredo, TX | 21.59% | 33,690 | 34,814 | 35,937 | 37,061 | 38,184 | 39,308 | 40,431 | 41,555 | 42,678 | 43,802 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 21.42% | 33,643 | 34,765 | 35,887 | 37,009 | 38,131 | 39,253 | 40,375 | 41,496 | 42,618 | 43,740 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 21.03% | 33,535 | 34,653 | 35,772 | 36,890 | 38,008 | 39,127 | 40,245 | 41,363 | 42,482 | 43,600 |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | 20.77% | 33,463 | 34,579 | 35,695 | 36,811 | 37,927 | 39,043 | 40,158 | 41,274 | 42,390 | 43,506 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 20.35% | 33,347 | 34,459 | 35,571 | 36,683 | 37,795 | 38,907 | 40,019 | 41,131 | 42,243 | 43,355 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 20.15% | 33,291 | 34,401 | 35,512 | 36,622 | 37,732 | 38,842 | 39,952 | 41,062 | 42,173 | 43,283 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL | 20.03% | 33,258 | 34,367 | 35,476 | 36,585 | 37,694 | 38,803 | 39,912 | 41,021 | 42,131 | 43,240 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 19.67% | 33,158 | 34,264 | 35,370 | 36,475 | 37,581 | 38,687 | 39,793 | 40,898 | 42,004 | 43,110 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 19.57% | 33,130 | 34,235 | 35,340 | 36,445 | 37,550 | 38,655 | 39,759 | 40,864 | 41,969 | 43,074 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 19.45% | 33,097 | 34,201 | 35,305 | 36,408 | 37,512 | 38,616 | 39,720 | 40,823 | 41,927 | 43,031 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 19.43% | 33,092 | 34,195 | 35,299 | 36,402 | 37,506 | 38,609 | 39,713 | 40,816 | 41,920 | 43,023 |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 19.28% | 33,050 | 34,152 | 35,254 | 36,357 | 37,459 | 38,561 | 39,663 | 40,765 | 41,867 | 42,969 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 18.97% | 32,964 | 34,063 | 35,163 | 36,262 | 37,361 | 38,461 | 39,560 | 40,659 | 41,758 | 42,858 |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 18.93% | 32,953 | 34,052 | 35,151 | 36,250 | 37,349 | 38,448 | 39,547 | 40,646 | 41,744 | 42,843 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 18.8% | 32,917 | 34,015 | 35,113 | 36,210 | 37,308 | 38,406 | 39,503 | 40,601 | 41,699 | 42,797 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 18.78% | 32,912 | 34,009 | 35,107 | 36,204 | 37,302 | 38,399 | 39,497 | 40,594 | 41,692 | 42,789 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 18.33% | 32,787 | 33,880 | 34,974 | 36,067 | 37,160 | 38,254 | 39,347 | 40,440 | 41,534 | 42,627 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 18.24% | 32,762 | 33,854 | 34,947 | 36,040 | 37,132 | 38,225 | 39,317 | 40,410 | 41,502 | 42,595 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 18.23% | 32,759 | 33,852 | 34,944 | 36,037 | 37,129 | 38,221 | 39,314 | 40,406 | 41,499 | 42,591 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 18.15% | 32,737 | 33,829 | 34,920 | 36,012 | 37,104 | 38,196 | 39,287 | 40,379 | 41,471 | 42,562 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | 18.01% | 32,698 | 33,789 | 34,879 | 35,969 | 37,060 | 38,150 | 39,241 | 40,331 | 41,422 | 42,512 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 17.93% | 32,676 | 33,766 | 34,855 | 35,945 | 37,035 | 38,124 | 39,214 | 40,304 | 41,393 | 42,483 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | 17.88% | 32,662 | 33,751 | 34,841 | 35,930 | 37,019 | 38,108 | 39,197 | 40,287 | 41,376 | 42,465 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | 17.67% | 32,604 | 33,691 | 34,779 | 35,866 | 36,953 | 38,040 | 39,128 | 40,215 | 41,302 | 42,389 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 17.65% | 32,598 | 33,686 | 34,773 | 35,860 | 36,947 | 38,034 | 39,121 | 40,208 | 41,295 | 42,382 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 17.63% | 32,593 | 33,680 | 34,767 | 35,854 | 36,941 | 38,027 | 39,114 | 40,201 | 41,288 | 42,375 |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 17.52% | 32,562 | 33,648 | 34,734 | 35,820 | 36,906 | 37,992 | 39,078 | 40,164 | 41,250 | 42,335 |
| 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% | 32,435 | 33,517 | 34,598 | 35,680 | 36,762 | 37,843 | 38,925 | 40,006 | 41,088 | 42,170 |
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-3 make in 2026?
The 2026 GS-3 base salary runs from $27,708 at step 1 to $36,024 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 is $32,435 in the Rest of U.S. area and $37,112 in the Washington, DC area.
What is the hourly rate for GS-3?
The 2026 base hourly rate for GS-3 is $13.28 at step 1 and $17.26 at step 10, before locality pay.
Will GS-3 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.