2026 GS-3 Pay in Tucson
GS-3 employees with a duty station in Tucson-Nogales, AZ earn 19.28% 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 $33,050 in Tucson.
2026 GS-3 Pay in Tucson
Locality-adjusted GS-3 rates for Tucson-Nogales, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $33,050 | $1,271.15 | $15.84 | +$5,342 |
| Step 2 | $34,152 | $1,313.54 | $16.36 | +$5,520 |
| Step 3 | $35,254 | $1,355.92 | $16.89 | +$5,698 |
| Step 4 | $36,357 | $1,398.35 | $17.42 | +$5,877 |
| Step 5 | $37,459 | $1,440.73 | $17.95 | +$6,055 |
| Step 6 | $38,561 | $1,483.12 | $18.48 | +$6,233 |
| Step 7 | $39,663 | $1,525.50 | $19.00 | +$6,411 |
| Step 8 | $40,765 | $1,567.88 | $19.53 | +$6,589 |
| Step 9 | $41,867 | $1,610.27 | $20.06 | +$6,767 |
| Step 10 | $42,969 | $1,652.65 | $20.59 | +$6,945 |
2026 GS-3 pay table for Tucson
Each step below already includes the 19.28% 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 | $33,050 | $1,271.15 | $15.84 | +$5,342 |
| Step 2 | $34,152 | $1,313.54 | $16.36 | +$5,520 |
| Step 3 | $35,254 | $1,355.92 | $16.89 | +$5,698 |
| Step 4 | $36,357 | $1,398.35 | $17.42 | +$5,877 |
| Step 5 | $37,459 | $1,440.73 | $17.95 | +$6,055 |
| Step 6 | $38,561 | $1,483.12 | $18.48 | +$6,233 |
| Step 7 | $39,663 | $1,525.50 | $19.00 | +$6,411 |
| Step 8 | $40,765 | $1,567.88 | $19.53 | +$6,589 |
| Step 9 | $41,867 | $1,610.27 | $20.06 | +$6,767 |
| Step 10 | $42,969 | $1,652.65 | $20.59 | +$6,945 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Tucson pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-3 in Tucson: what to expect
Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.
For 2026, the Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,271 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,653. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Tucson
GS-3 in Tucson questions
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How much does a GS-3 make in Tucson?
In 2026, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $33,050 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,969. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-3 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Tucson?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Tucson in 2026, it is 19.28%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,342 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Tucson?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,271 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.