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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$74,678 GS-11 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2026)
$97,087 GS-11 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2026)
+$10,883 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-11 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 17.06% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $74,678 $2,872.23 $35.78 +$10,883
Step 2 $77,168 $2,968.00 $36.98 +$11,246
Step 3 $79,658 $3,063.77 $38.17 +$11,609
Step 4 $82,148 $3,159.54 $39.36 +$11,972
Step 5 $84,638 $3,255.31 $40.55 +$12,335
Step 6 $87,128 $3,351.08 $41.75 +$12,698
Step 7 $89,618 $3,446.85 $42.94 +$13,061
Step 8 $92,107 $3,542.58 $44.13 +$13,423
Step 9 $94,597 $3,638.35 $45.33 +$13,786
Step 10 $97,087 $3,734.12 $46.52 +$14,149
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $63,795
  • Rest of U.S. GS-11 Step 1 $74,678
  • Locality add-on +$10,883
  • Adjustment percent 17.06%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $82,938
  • Rest of U.S. GS-11 Step 10 $97,087

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-11 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2026, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 17.06% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 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-11 in Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,872 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,734. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-11 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $74,678 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $97,087. This is 17.06% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2026, it is 17.06%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,883 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,872 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.