2026 GL-6 Pay Scale
The 2026 base salary range for GL-6 runs from $45,256 at Step 1 to $56,893 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-6 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
$45,256 GL-6 Step 1 base salary
$56,893 GL-6 Step 10 base salary
Sergeant Approximate military comparison
2026 GL-6 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-6 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 | $45,256 | $1,740.62 | $21.68 | - |
| Step 2 | $46,549 | $1,790.35 | $22.30 | - |
| Step 3 | $47,842 | $1,840.08 | $22.92 | - |
| Step 4 | $49,135 | $1,889.81 | $23.54 | - |
| Step 5 | $50,428 | $1,939.54 | $24.16 | - |
| Step 6 | $51,721 | $1,989.27 | $24.78 | - |
| Step 7 | $53,014 | $2,039.00 | $25.40 | - |
| Step 8 | $54,307 | $2,088.73 | $26.02 | - |
| Step 9 | $55,600 | $2,138.46 | $26.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $56,893 | $2,188.19 | $27.26 | - |
What kind of role is GL-6?
Typical role. Experienced officers or investigators with more responsibility, case complexity or patrol authority.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-5 level.
Career progression. A GL-6 employee is commonly next considered for GL-7 or GL-8 promotion.
Step progression for GL-6
GL-6 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-6 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-6 Step 1 | GL-6 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $66,228 | $83,257 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $62,431 | $78,484 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $61,761 | $77,642 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $61,096 | $76,806 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $60,616 | $76,202 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $60,516 | $76,077 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $60,000 | $75,429 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $59,901 | $75,304 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $59,774 | $75,144 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $59,543 | $74,854 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $59,222 | $74,450 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $59,068 | $74,257 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $58,724 | $73,824 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $58,435 | $73,460 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $58,376 | $73,386 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $57,756 | $72,607 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $57,593 | $72,402 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $57,081 | $71,759 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $56,421 | $70,929 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $56,022 | $70,428 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $55,416 | $69,665 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $55,402 | $69,648 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $55,398 | $69,643 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $55,339 | $69,569 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $55,321 | $69,546 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $55,316 | $69,540 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $55,307 | $69,529 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $55,280 | $69,495 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $55,181 | $69,370 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $55,172 | $69,358 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $55,027 | $69,176 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $54,950 | $69,079 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $54,773 | $68,858 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $54,656 | $68,710 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $54,466 | $68,471 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $54,375 | $68,357 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $54,321 | $68,289 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $54,158 | $68,084 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $54,113 | $68,027 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $54,058 | $67,959 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $54,049 | $67,947 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $53,981 | $67,862 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $53,841 | $67,686 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $53,823 | $67,663 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $53,764 | $67,589 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $53,755 | $67,578 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $53,551 | $67,321 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $53,511 | $67,270 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $53,506 | $67,265 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $53,470 | $67,219 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $53,407 | $67,139 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $53,370 | $67,094 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $53,348 | $67,065 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $53,253 | $66,946 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $53,244 | $66,935 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $53,235 | $66,923 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $53,185 | $66,861 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $52,977 | $66,599 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $45,256 | $56,893 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-6
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-6 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-6 in 2026?
The base starting salary for GL-6 in 2026 is $45,256 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-6 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-6 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-6 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.