2016 GS-1 Pay Scale
The GS-1 base salary range for 2016 is $18,343 at Step 1, rising to $22,941 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-1 for 2016.
2016 GS-1 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-1 rates for 2016.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $18,343 | $705.50 | $8.79 | - |
| Step 2 | $18,956 | $729.08 | $9.08 | - |
| Step 3 | $19,566 | $752.54 | $9.38 | - |
| Step 4 | $20,173 | $775.88 | $9.67 | - |
| Step 5 | $20,783 | $799.35 | $9.96 | - |
| Step 6 | $21,140 | $813.08 | $10.13 | - |
| Step 7 | $21,743 | $836.27 | $10.42 | - |
| Step 8 | $22,351 | $859.65 | $10.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $22,375 | $860.58 | $10.72 | - |
| Step 10 | $22,941 | $882.35 | $10.99 | - |
2016 GS-1 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-1 salary schedule for 2016, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $18,343 | $705.50 | $8.79 | - |
| Step 2 | $18,956 | $729.08 | $9.08 | - |
| Step 3 | $19,566 | $752.54 | $9.38 | - |
| Step 4 | $20,173 | $775.88 | $9.67 | - |
| Step 5 | $20,783 | $799.35 | $9.96 | - |
| Step 6 | $21,140 | $813.08 | $10.13 | - |
| Step 7 | $21,743 | $836.27 | $10.42 | - |
| Step 8 | $22,351 | $859.65 | $10.71 | - |
| Step 9 | $22,375 | $860.58 | $10.72 | - |
| Step 10 | $22,941 | $882.35 | $10.99 | - |
Who is a GS-1?
Typical role. Entry-level clerical, labor and support positions. GS-1 is rarely used today; most entry roles now start at GS-2 or GS-3.
Minimum qualifications. No formal education or experience required. Generally filled by workers with basic literacy and ability to follow simple instructions.
Career progression. Promotion to GS-2 typically follows one year of satisfactory service.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-1 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-1 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2016, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-1 Step 1 | GS-1 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.75% | $24,901 | $31,142 |
| New York-Newark | 29.20% | $23,699 | $29,640 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 29.11% | $23,683 | $29,619 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.65% | $23,415 | $29,284 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 26.20% | $23,149 | $28,952 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.44% | $23,009 | $28,777 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 25.19% | $22,964 | $28,720 |
| State of Alaska | 25.16% | $22,958 | $28,713 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.78% | $22,888 | $28,626 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.73% | $22,879 | $28,614 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.40% | $22,819 | $28,539 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.93% | $22,549 | $28,201 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.61% | $22,490 | $28,128 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 22.26% | $22,426 | $28,048 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 22.22% | $22,419 | $28,038 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 21.30% | $22,250 | $27,827 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 21.05% | $22,204 | $27,770 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 21.04% | $22,202 | $27,768 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.69% | $22,138 | $27,687 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.58% | $21,935 | $27,433 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.87% | $21,804 | $27,270 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.76% | $21,784 | $27,245 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.39% | $21,716 | $27,160 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.94% | $21,634 | $27,057 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.41% | $21,537 | $26,935 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 17.31% | $21,518 | $26,912 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 17.12% | $21,483 | $26,868 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.81% | $21,426 | $26,797 |
| Richmond | 16.76% | $21,417 | $26,786 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.68% | $21,403 | $26,768 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.50% | $21,370 | $26,726 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.37% | $21,346 | $26,696 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.92% | $21,080 | $26,364 |
| Laredo | 14.59% | $21,019 | $26,288 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 14.55% | $21,012 | $26,279 |
| Colorado Springs | 14.52% | $21,006 | $26,272 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 14.51% | $21,005 | $26,270 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 14.51% | $21,005 | $26,270 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 14.49% | $21,001 | $26,265 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 14.49% | $21,001 | $26,265 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 14.49% | $21,001 | $26,265 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 14.47% | $20,997 | $26,261 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 14.44% | $20,992 | $26,254 |
| Davenport-Moline | 14.43% | $20,990 | $26,251 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 14.42% | $20,988 | $26,249 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 14.37% | $20,979 | $26,238 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35% | $20,975 | $26,233 |
Top and bottom GS-1 localities in 2016
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-1 pay scale
GS-1 is part of the 2016 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Entry-level clerical, labor and support positions. GS-1 is rarely used today; most entry roles now start at GS-2 or GS-3.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2016
GS-1 questions for 2016
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What is the starting salary for GS-1 in 2016?
The base starting salary for GS-1 in 2016 is $18,343 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2016 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.75%), GS-1 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-1 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-1 to GS-2?
Promotion from GS-1 to GS-2 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-1 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-2 vacancy. Open the GS-2 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-1?
GS-1 is roughly equivalent to E-2 Private Second Class. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.