2026 GS-15 Pay Scale
The GS-15 base salary range for 2026 is $126,384 at Step 1, rising to $164,301 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-15 for 2026.
2026 GS-15 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-15 rates for 2026.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $126,384 | $4,860.92 | $60.56 | - |
| Step 2 | $130,597 | $5,022.96 | $62.58 | - |
| Step 3 | $134,810 | $5,185.00 | $64.60 | - |
| Step 4 | $139,023 | $5,347.04 | $66.61 | - |
| Step 5 | $143,236 | $5,509.08 | $68.63 | - |
| Step 6 | $147,449 | $5,671.12 | $70.65 | - |
| Step 7 | $151,662 | $5,833.15 | $72.67 | - |
| Step 8 | $155,875 | $5,995.19 | $74.69 | - |
| Step 9 | $160,088 | $6,157.23 | $76.71 | - |
| Step 10 | $164,301 | $6,319.27 | $78.73 | - |
2026 GS-15 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-15 salary schedule for 2026, 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 | $126,384 | $4,860.92 | $60.56 | - |
| Step 2 | $130,597 | $5,022.96 | $62.58 | - |
| Step 3 | $134,810 | $5,185.00 | $64.60 | - |
| Step 4 | $139,023 | $5,347.04 | $66.61 | - |
| Step 5 | $143,236 | $5,509.08 | $68.63 | - |
| Step 6 | $147,449 | $5,671.12 | $70.65 | - |
| Step 7 | $151,662 | $5,833.15 | $72.67 | - |
| Step 8 | $155,875 | $5,995.19 | $74.69 | - |
| Step 9 | $160,088 | $6,157.23 | $76.71 | - |
| Step 10 | $164,301 | $6,319.27 | $78.73 | - |
Who is a GS-15?
Typical role. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Career progression. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-15 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-15 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2026, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $184,950 | $197,200 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $174,347 | $197,200 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $172,476 | $197,200 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $170,618 | $197,200 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $169,279 | $197,200 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $169,001 | $197,200 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $167,560 | $197,200 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $167,282 | $197,200 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $166,928 | $197,200 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $166,283 | $197,200 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $165,386 | $197,200 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $164,956 | $197,200 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $163,996 | $197,200 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $163,187 | $197,200 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $163,023 | $197,200 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $161,291 | $197,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $160,836 | $197,200 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $159,408 | $197,200 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $157,563 | $197,200 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $156,451 | $197,200 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $154,757 | $197,200 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $154,719 | $197,200 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $154,707 | $197,200 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $154,542 | $197,200 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $154,492 | $197,200 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $154,479 | $197,200 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $154,454 | $197,200 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $154,378 | $197,200 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $154,100 | $197,200 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $154,075 | $197,200 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $153,670 | $197,200 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $153,455 | $197,200 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $152,963 | $197,200 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $152,634 | $197,200 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $152,103 | $197,200 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $151,850 | $197,200 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $151,699 | $197,200 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $151,244 | $196,619 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $151,117 | $196,455 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $150,966 | $196,258 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $150,940 | $196,225 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $150,751 | $195,978 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $150,359 | $195,469 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $150,308 | $195,403 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $150,144 | $195,190 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $150,119 | $195,157 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $149,550 | $194,417 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $149,436 | $194,270 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $149,424 | $194,253 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $149,323 | $194,122 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $149,146 | $193,892 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $149,045 | $193,760 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $148,981 | $193,678 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $148,716 | $193,333 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $148,691 | $193,300 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $148,665 | $193,267 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $148,526 | $193,087 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $147,945 | $192,331 |
Top and bottom GS-15 localities in 2026
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-15 pay scale
GS-15 is part of the 2026 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
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 2026
GS-15 questions for 2026
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What is the starting salary for GS-15 in 2026?
The base starting salary for GS-15 in 2026 is $126,384 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2026 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 46.34%), GS-15 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-15 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-15 to GS-16?
GS-15 is the highest grade in the General Schedule. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES). -
What is the military equivalent of GS-15?
GS-15 is roughly equivalent to O-6 Colonel. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.