2026 GL-4 Pay Scale
The 2026 base salary range for GL-4 runs from $37,325 at Step 1 to $46,658 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-4 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
$37,325 GL-4 Step 1 base salary
$46,658 GL-4 Step 10 base salary
Private First Class Approximate military comparison
2026 GL-4 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-4 table for 2026. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,325 | $1,435.58 | $17.88 | - |
| Step 2 | $38,362 | $1,475.46 | $18.38 | - |
| Step 3 | $39,399 | $1,515.35 | $18.88 | - |
| Step 4 | $40,436 | $1,555.23 | $19.38 | - |
| Step 5 | $41,473 | $1,595.12 | $19.87 | - |
| Step 6 | $42,510 | $1,635.00 | $20.37 | - |
| Step 7 | $43,547 | $1,674.88 | $20.87 | - |
| Step 8 | $44,584 | $1,714.77 | $21.36 | - |
| Step 9 | $45,621 | $1,754.65 | $21.86 | - |
| Step 10 | $46,658 | $1,794.54 | $22.36 | - |
What kind of role is GL-4?
Typical role. Working-level officers and agents with basic independent duties and routine case or patrol work.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-3 level or equivalent training and experience.
Career progression. Many employees advance to GL-5 after one year in grade.
Step progression for GL-4
GL-4 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-4 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2026. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-4 Step 1 | GL-4 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $54,621 | $68,279 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $51,490 | $64,365 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $50,937 | $63,674 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $50,389 | $62,988 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $49,993 | $62,494 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $49,911 | $62,391 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $49,485 | $61,859 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $49,403 | $61,757 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $49,299 | $61,626 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $49,109 | $61,388 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $48,843 | $61,057 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $48,717 | $60,898 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $48,433 | $60,543 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $48,194 | $60,245 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $48,146 | $60,184 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $47,634 | $59,545 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $47,500 | $59,377 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $47,078 | $58,850 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $46,533 | $58,169 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $46,205 | $57,758 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $45,704 | $57,133 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $45,693 | $57,119 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $45,690 | $57,114 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $45,641 | $57,053 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $45,626 | $57,035 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $45,622 | $57,030 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $45,615 | $57,021 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $45,592 | $56,993 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $45,510 | $56,890 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $45,503 | $56,881 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $45,383 | $56,731 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $45,320 | $56,652 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $45,174 | $56,470 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $45,077 | $56,349 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $44,921 | $56,153 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $44,846 | $56,060 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $44,801 | $56,004 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $44,667 | $55,836 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $44,630 | $55,789 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $44,585 | $55,733 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $44,577 | $55,724 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $44,521 | $55,654 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $44,406 | $55,509 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $44,391 | $55,490 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $44,342 | $55,430 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $44,335 | $55,420 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $44,167 | $55,210 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $44,133 | $55,168 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $44,129 | $55,164 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $44,099 | $55,126 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $44,047 | $55,061 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $44,017 | $55,024 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $43,999 | $55,000 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $43,920 | $54,902 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $43,913 | $54,893 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $43,905 | $54,884 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $43,864 | $54,832 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $43,693 | $54,618 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $37,325 | $46,658 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-4
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2026
GL-3 $33,252
GL-4 $37,325
GL-5 $42,919
GL-6 $45,256
GL-7 $48,854
GL-8 $50,920
GL-9 $54,485
GL-10 $59,999
GL-4 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-4 in 2026?
The base starting salary for GL-4 in 2026 is $37,325 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-4 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-4 steps?
Within-grade step increases follow the same OPM timing used for other statutory pay systems: one year between Steps 1 to 4, two years between Steps 4 to 7, and three years between Steps 7 to 10, assuming acceptable performance. -
Does GL-4 include LEAP or overtime?
No. This table shows basic pay only. It does not include law enforcement availability pay, overtime, premium pay, retention incentives, or other agency-specific compensation.