2026 GS-11 Pay in Washington DC
GS-11 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% on top of the base GS-11 pay scale. That means a GS-11 Step 1 salary jumps from $63,795 on the base table to $85,447 in Washington DC.
2026 GS-11 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-11 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $85,447 | $3,286.42 | $40.94 | +$21,652 |
| Step 2 | $88,296 | $3,396.00 | $42.31 | +$22,374 |
| Step 3 | $91,145 | $3,505.58 | $43.67 | +$23,096 |
| Step 4 | $93,994 | $3,615.15 | $45.04 | +$23,818 |
| Step 5 | $96,843 | $3,724.73 | $46.40 | +$24,540 |
| Step 6 | $99,692 | $3,834.31 | $47.77 | +$25,262 |
| Step 7 | $102,540 | $3,943.85 | $49.13 | +$25,983 |
| Step 8 | $105,389 | $4,053.42 | $50.50 | +$26,705 |
| Step 9 | $108,238 | $4,163.00 | $51.86 | +$27,427 |
| Step 10 | $111,087 | $4,272.58 | $53.23 | +$28,149 |
2026 GS-11 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-11 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $85,447 | $3,286.42 | $40.94 | +$21,652 |
| Step 2 | $88,296 | $3,396.00 | $42.31 | +$22,374 |
| Step 3 | $91,145 | $3,505.58 | $43.67 | +$23,096 |
| Step 4 | $93,994 | $3,615.15 | $45.04 | +$23,818 |
| Step 5 | $96,843 | $3,724.73 | $46.40 | +$24,540 |
| Step 6 | $99,692 | $3,834.31 | $47.77 | +$25,262 |
| Step 7 | $102,540 | $3,943.85 | $49.13 | +$25,983 |
| Step 8 | $105,389 | $4,053.42 | $50.50 | +$26,705 |
| Step 9 | $108,238 | $4,163.00 | $51.86 | +$27,427 |
| Step 10 | $111,087 | $4,272.58 | $53.23 | +$28,149 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-11 in Washington DC: what to expect
Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.
For 2026, the Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,286 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,273. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-11 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-11 make in Washington DC?
In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $85,447 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $111,087. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-11 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 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-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,652 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $3,286 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.