An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$131,245 GS-14 Step 1 in Columbus (2026)
$170,624 GS-14 Step 10 in Columbus (2026)
+$23,799 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-14 pay table for Columbus

Each step below already includes the 22.15% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-14 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $131,245 $5,047.88 $62.89 +$23,799
Step 2 $135,621 $5,216.19 $64.98 +$24,593
Step 3 $139,996 $5,384.46 $67.08 +$25,386
Step 4 $144,372 $5,552.77 $69.18 +$26,180
Step 5 $148,747 $5,721.04 $71.27 +$26,973
Step 6 $153,122 $5,889.31 $73.37 +$27,766
Step 7 $157,498 $6,057.62 $75.47 +$28,560
Step 8 $161,873 $6,225.88 $77.56 +$29,353
Step 9 $166,249 $6,394.19 $79.66 +$30,147
Step 10 $170,624 $6,562.46 $81.76 +$30,940
← GS-13 Calculate my take-home GS-15 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Columbus pays

  • Base GS-14 Step 1 $107,446
  • Columbus GS-14 Step 1 $131,245
  • Locality add-on +$23,799
  • Adjustment percent 22.15%
  • Base GS-14 Step 10 $139,684
  • Columbus GS-14 Step 10 $170,624

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-14 in Columbus: what to expect

Supervisory managers, senior program leads and senior technical experts. Many agency branch chiefs sit at GS-14.

For 2026, the Columbus pay area adds a 22.15% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-14 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-13 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-15 is selective; many GS-14 employees reach this grade as a career peak.

The rough military equivalent for GS-14 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-14 in Columbus

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns roughly $5,048 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,562. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Columbus

GS-14 in Columbus questions

  • How much does a GS-14 make in Columbus?
    In 2026, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns $131,245 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,624. This is 22.15% higher than the base GS-14 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-14 in Columbus?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Columbus in 2026, it is 22.15%. On a GS-14 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $23,799 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-14 in Columbus?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-14 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns roughly $5,048 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.