2026 GS-3 Pay in Denver
GS-3 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% on top of the base GS-3 pay scale. That means a GS-3 Step 1 salary jumps from $27,708 on the base table to $36,164 in Denver.
2026 GS-3 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-3 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,164 | $1,390.92 | $17.33 | +$8,456 |
| Step 2 | $37,370 | $1,437.31 | $17.91 | +$8,738 |
| Step 3 | $38,576 | $1,483.69 | $18.48 | +$9,020 |
| Step 4 | $39,782 | $1,530.08 | $19.06 | +$9,302 |
| Step 5 | $40,989 | $1,576.50 | $19.64 | +$9,585 |
| Step 6 | $42,195 | $1,622.88 | $20.22 | +$9,867 |
| Step 7 | $43,401 | $1,669.27 | $20.80 | +$10,149 |
| Step 8 | $44,607 | $1,715.65 | $21.37 | +$10,431 |
| Step 9 | $45,813 | $1,762.04 | $21.95 | +$10,713 |
| Step 10 | $47,019 | $1,808.42 | $22.53 | +$10,995 |
2026 GS-3 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $36,164 | $1,390.92 | $17.33 | +$8,456 |
| Step 2 | $37,370 | $1,437.31 | $17.91 | +$8,738 |
| Step 3 | $38,576 | $1,483.69 | $18.48 | +$9,020 |
| Step 4 | $39,782 | $1,530.08 | $19.06 | +$9,302 |
| Step 5 | $40,989 | $1,576.50 | $19.64 | +$9,585 |
| Step 6 | $42,195 | $1,622.88 | $20.22 | +$9,867 |
| Step 7 | $43,401 | $1,669.27 | $20.80 | +$10,149 |
| Step 8 | $44,607 | $1,715.65 | $21.37 | +$10,431 |
| Step 9 | $45,813 | $1,762.04 | $21.95 | +$10,713 |
| Step 10 | $47,019 | $1,808.42 | $22.53 | +$10,995 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-3 in Denver: what to expect
Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.
For 2026, the Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,391 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,808. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Denver
GS-3 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-3 make in Denver?
In 2026, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $36,164 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $47,019. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-3 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2026, it is 30.52%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,456 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,391 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.