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

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$33,291 GS-3 Step 1 in Colorado Springs (2026)
$43,283 GS-3 Step 10 in Colorado Springs (2026)
+$5,583 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-3 pay table for Colorado Springs

Each step below already includes the 20.15% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $33,291 $1,280.42 $15.95 +$5,583
Step 2 $34,401 $1,323.12 $16.48 +$5,769
Step 3 $35,512 $1,365.85 $17.02 +$5,956
Step 4 $36,622 $1,408.54 $17.55 +$6,142
Step 5 $37,732 $1,451.23 $18.08 +$6,328
Step 6 $38,842 $1,493.92 $18.61 +$6,514
Step 7 $39,952 $1,536.62 $19.14 +$6,700
Step 8 $41,062 $1,579.31 $19.68 +$6,886
Step 9 $42,173 $1,622.04 $20.21 +$7,073
Step 10 $43,283 $1,664.73 $20.74 +$7,259
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Colorado Springs pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $27,708
  • Colorado Springs GS-3 Step 1 $33,291
  • Locality add-on +$5,583
  • Adjustment percent 20.15%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $36,024
  • Colorado Springs GS-3 Step 10 $43,283

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-3 in Colorado Springs: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2026, the Colorado Springs pay area adds a 20.15% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Colorado Springs

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns roughly $1,280 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,665. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Colorado Springs

GS-3 in Colorado Springs questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Colorado Springs?
    In 2026, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns $33,291 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $43,283. This is 20.15% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Colorado Springs?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Colorado Springs in 2026, it is 20.15%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,583 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Colorado Springs?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Colorado Springs earns roughly $1,280 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.