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GS pay scale 2026 dc - GS Salary Table
The WASHINGTON-BALTIMORE-ARLINGTON, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA GS locality is one of the official areas used to calculate cost-of-living adjustments under the General Schedule (GS) federal pay system. This federal pay scale is managed through official OPM GS pay tables and applies to millions of civilian federal employees across different grades and steps.
In 2025, the locality pay adjustment for this area is 33.94%, meaning federal government employees working in Washington DC earn 33.94% more than the base GS salary table rate. For the 2026 GS pay scale, the federal workforce received an average 1% base pay increase, while locality percentages including Washington DC remained unchanged. This means the updated 2026 federal pay raise chart increases overall earnings slightly, but the locality multiplier stays the same.
While Washington, D.C. is the central city for this locality, federal employees in surrounding counties and neighbouring states may also fall within its boundaries under the official federal pay schedule. The locality map determines which regions qualify for the DC adjustment, and employees should confirm their pay area through their agency’s payroll classification.
Below is the detailed 2025 GS pay scale DC salary schedule, which now reflects the structure used for both the gs pay scale 2026 and 2026 gs pay scale adjustments.You can also read out the 2025 gs pay scale increase.
Understanding the Federal GS Scale Structure
The GS scale includes 15 grades and 10 steps within each grade, forming the foundation of federal government salaries. Entry-level roles may begin around GS-5, while mid-career professionals often fall within GS-11 salary ranges, and senior leadership roles are typically classified as GS-14 or GS15 positions.
Each step increase represents roughly a 3% pay adjustment based on performance and longevity. This structure ensures predictable progression across the broader federal government employee salaries framework. Because locality pay is applied on top of base pay, employees in high-cost areas like Washington DC often see significantly higher earnings compared to the base salary schedule.
gs pay scale 2026
2025 gs pay scale dc
What Changed in the 2026 GS Pay Scale?
The most important update in the gs pay scale 2026 is how the pay raise was applied. Instead of splitting increases between base and locality pay, the 2026 adjustment focused entirely on base salary growth.
Key updates include:
- The overall federal pay scale increased by about 1% across grades.
- Washington DC locality remained at 33.94%, meaning the federal pay schedule structure stayed consistent.
- Because locality percentages did not change, employees will see modest increases compared to previous years.
- This “base-only” increase means your updated pay can be calculated using the same formula:
- New Base Pay + (New Base × Existing Locality %) = Updated GS Salary
This approach explains why many federal employees feel the 2026 raise is smaller even though the 2026 gs pay scale technically increased.
What Is the GS Increase for 2026?
The 2026 General Schedule (GS) pay increase is approximately 1% overall for federal civilian employees. This adjustment primarily increased base pay, while most locality pay percentages including Washington-Baltimore remained unchanged from 2025.
What was the GS Increase for 2025?
Most civilian federal employees has received a 2% pay raise starting in January 2025, following President Joe Biden's signing of an executive order finalising the General Schedule increase.
Which GS Grades Saw the Largest Pay Increase in 2026?
Although the 2026 federal pay adjustment applied a uniform 1% increase across the General Schedule, higher GS grades experienced the largest dollar increases. Senior roles such as GS-14 and GS-15 saw annual salary growth exceeding $1,400–$1,600 depending on step level, while mid-career positions like GS-11 and GS-12 experienced increases closer to $800–$1,000.
Because locality pay is applied as a percentage of base salary, employees in higher grades benefit more from even small federal pay adjustments. This is why many Washington DC federal employees noticed a larger pay change at GS-13 and above compared to entry-level grades.
Know GS Pay Scale Locality (2026) for Other Cities
GS locality pay varies significantly across regions based on cost of living and federal workforce concentration. While Washington, DC has one of the highest locality adjustments, federal employees often compare salary structures across other major metro areas to evaluate compensation differences.
You can review the latest 2026 GS locality pay charts for other major cities below:
Reviewing locality-wise GS pay tables helps federal employees better understand how geographic placement impacts base salary, step increases, and total annual compensation.
Is GS 13 a High Position?
Yes, a GS-13 position is regarded as a high-level role within the US federal government's General Schedule (GS) pay scale. It typically represents senior technical specialists, supervisors, or professionals with advanced degrees. GS-13 falls within the "top-level" range, alongside GS-14 and GS-15 positions.
Also read - gs pay scale 2026
How Much Does a GS15 Make in DC?
A GS15 employee in Washington DC earns significantly more than base pay because locality adjustments apply to the official OPM GS pay schedule. While job listing averages for federal government salaries may show different ranges, the official GS-15 salary within the federal pay scale follows the structured step system shown in the salary schedule above.
For example:
- Step 1 GS15 salaries exceed $160K under the Washington DC locality.
- Higher steps may reach the federal pay cap defined under the annual federal pay schedule.
Examples of GS15 roles include:
- Supervisory Psychologist (Customs and Border Protection)
- Computer Scientist (FBI)
- Policy Analyst (Office of the Secretary of Defense)
- Environmental Policy Analyst (EPA)
Here are some examples of GS-15 jobs in the Washington, D.C., area and their salaries:
- Supervisory Psychologist (Customs and Border Protection): $164K–$192K annually
- Computer Scientist (FBI, Washington, D.C.): $164K–$192K annually
- Policy Analyst (Office of the Secretary of Defense, Arlington, VA): $117,962 annually
- Supervisory Environmental Policy Analyst (Environmental Protection Agency): $139,395 annually
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Jeremy Haug
Jeremy is a seasoned contributor for Federal Pension Advisors bringing years of experience in helping federal employees understand their pension and benefits. His goal is to make retirement planning clear, practical, and empowering.
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