2026 GS-10 Pay in Washington DC
GS-10 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% on top of the base GS-10 pay scale. That means a GS-10 Step 1 salary jumps from $58,064 on the base table to $77,771 in Washington DC.
2026 GS-10 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-10 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,771 | $2,991.19 | $37.26 | +$19,707 |
| Step 2 | $80,363 | $3,090.88 | $38.51 | +$20,364 |
| Step 3 | $82,954 | $3,190.54 | $39.75 | +$21,020 |
| Step 4 | $85,546 | $3,290.23 | $40.99 | +$21,677 |
| Step 5 | $88,138 | $3,389.92 | $42.23 | +$22,334 |
| Step 6 | $90,730 | $3,489.62 | $43.47 | +$22,991 |
| Step 7 | $93,321 | $3,589.27 | $44.72 | +$23,647 |
| Step 8 | $95,913 | $3,688.96 | $45.96 | +$24,304 |
| Step 9 | $98,505 | $3,788.65 | $47.20 | +$24,961 |
| Step 10 | $101,097 | $3,888.35 | $48.44 | +$25,618 |
2026 GS-10 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-10 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $77,771 | $2,991.19 | $37.26 | +$19,707 |
| Step 2 | $80,363 | $3,090.88 | $38.51 | +$20,364 |
| Step 3 | $82,954 | $3,190.54 | $39.75 | +$21,020 |
| Step 4 | $85,546 | $3,290.23 | $40.99 | +$21,677 |
| Step 5 | $88,138 | $3,389.92 | $42.23 | +$22,334 |
| Step 6 | $90,730 | $3,489.62 | $43.47 | +$22,991 |
| Step 7 | $93,321 | $3,589.27 | $44.72 | +$23,647 |
| Step 8 | $95,913 | $3,688.96 | $45.96 | +$24,304 |
| Step 9 | $98,505 | $3,788.65 | $47.20 | +$24,961 |
| Step 10 | $101,097 | $3,888.35 | $48.44 | +$25,618 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-10 in Washington DC: what to expect
Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.
For 2026, the Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.
Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.
The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,991 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,888. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-10 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-10 make in Washington DC?
In 2026, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $77,771 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $101,097. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-10 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2026, it is 33.94%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,707 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,991 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.