2026 GS-15 Pay in St. Louis
GS-15 employees with a duty station in St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL earn 20.03% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $126,384 on the base table to $151,699 in St. Louis.
2026 GS-15 Pay in St. Louis
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $151,699 | $5,834.58 | $72.69 | +$25,315 |
| Step 2 | $156,756 | $6,029.08 | $75.11 | +$26,159 |
| Step 3 | $161,812 | $6,223.54 | $77.53 | +$27,002 |
| Step 4 | $166,869 | $6,418.04 | $79.96 | +$27,846 |
| Step 5 | $171,926 | $6,612.54 | $82.38 | +$28,690 |
| Step 6 | $176,983 | $6,807.04 | $84.80 | +$29,534 |
| Step 7 | $182,040 | $7,001.54 | $87.23 | +$30,378 |
| Step 8 | $187,097 | $7,196.04 | $89.65 | +$31,222 |
| Step 9 | $192,154 | $7,390.54 | $92.07 | +$32,066 |
| Step 10 | $197,200 | $7,584.62 | $94.49 | +$32,899 |
2026 GS-15 pay table for St. Louis
Each step below already includes the 20.03% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $151,699 | $5,834.58 | $72.69 | +$25,315 |
| Step 2 | $156,756 | $6,029.08 | $75.11 | +$26,159 |
| Step 3 | $161,812 | $6,223.54 | $77.53 | +$27,002 |
| Step 4 | $166,869 | $6,418.04 | $79.96 | +$27,846 |
| Step 5 | $171,926 | $6,612.54 | $82.38 | +$28,690 |
| Step 6 | $176,983 | $6,807.04 | $84.80 | +$29,534 |
| Step 7 | $182,040 | $7,001.54 | $87.23 | +$30,378 |
| Step 8 | $187,097 | $7,196.04 | $89.65 | +$31,222 |
| Step 9 | $192,154 | $7,390.54 | $92.07 | +$32,066 |
| Step 10 | $197,200 | $7,584.62 | $94.49 | +$32,899 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more St. Louis pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in St. Louis: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2026, the St. Louis pay area adds a 20.03% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 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-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 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-15 in St. Louis
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,835 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,585. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in St. Louis
GS-15 in St. Louis questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in St. Louis?
In 2026, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $151,699 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $197,200. This is 20.03% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in St. Louis?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2026, it is 20.03%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $25,315 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in St. Louis?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $5,835 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.