GS Pay Scale 2026 Boston
Boston GS employees get 32.58% locality pay in 2026 under the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT area, 15.52 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 7th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $101,375 a year ($48.57 per hour), $11,867 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $197,200 (GS-15 step 10).
Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). For your own grade, step and duty station use the GS pay calculator, or see how to read the GS pay scale. Looking for next year? See federal pay raise 2027.
Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources
GS pay scale 2026 Boston: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay area (32.58%). An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap and a dagger (†) marks a rate set by special rate table 001M.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $35,048† (special rate table 001M) | $35,772† (special rate table 001M) | $36,496† (special rate table 001M) | $37,220† (special rate table 001M) | $37,944† (special rate table 001M) | $38,668† (special rate table 001M) | $39,392† (special rate table 001M) | $40,116† (special rate table 001M) | $40,840† (special rate table 001M) | $41,564† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $35,749† (special rate table 001M) | $36,568† (special rate table 001M) | $37,387† (special rate table 001M) | $38,206† (special rate table 001M) | $39,025† (special rate table 001M) | $39,844† (special rate table 001M) | $40,663† (special rate table 001M) | $41,482† (special rate table 001M) | $42,301† (special rate table 001M) | $43,120† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $36,735 | $37,960 | $39,185 | $40,410 | $41,635 | $42,860 | $44,086 | $45,311 | $46,536 | $47,761 |
| GS-4 | $41,236 | $42,611 | $43,986 | $45,361 | $46,736 | $48,111 | $49,485 | $50,860 | $52,235 | $53,610 |
| GS-5 | $46,137 | $47,674 | $49,212 | $50,750 | $52,288 | $53,826 | $55,364 | $56,902 | $58,440 | $59,978 |
| GS-6 | $51,429 | $53,143 | $54,858 | $56,572 | $58,286 | $60,000 | $61,715 | $63,429 | $65,143 | $66,857 |
| GS-7 | $57,150 | $59,055 | $60,960 | $62,865 | $64,771 | $66,676 | $68,581 | $70,486 | $72,391 | $74,297 |
| GS-8 | $63,291 | $65,400 | $67,510 | $69,619 | $71,728 | $73,838 | $75,947 | $78,056 | $80,166 | $82,275 |
| GS-9 | $69,905 | $72,236 | $74,567 | $76,898 | $79,228 | $81,559 | $83,890 | $86,221 | $88,552 | $90,882 |
| GS-10 | $76,981 | $79,547 | $82,112 | $84,678 | $87,243 | $89,808 | $92,374 | $94,939 | $97,505 | $100,070 |
| GS-11 | $84,579 | $87,399 | $90,219 | $93,039 | $95,859 | $98,679 | $101,499 | $104,319 | $107,139 | $109,959 |
| GS-12 | $101,375 | $104,754 | $108,134 | $111,513 | $114,893 | $118,272 | $121,651 | $125,031 | $128,410 | $131,790 |
| GS-13 | $120,548 | $124,567 | $128,585 | $132,604 | $136,622 | $140,641 | $144,659 | $148,678 | $152,696 | $156,715 |
| GS-14 | $142,452 | $147,201 | $151,950 | $156,699 | $161,448 | $166,197 | $170,946 | $175,695 | $180,444 | $185,193 |
| GS-15 | $167,560 | $173,146 | $178,731 | $184,317 | $189,902 | $195,488 | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) |
Rates marked † are set by OPM special rate table 001M, which applies to all General Schedule employees whose worksite is in the United States when it pays more than the locality rate (5 U.S.C. 5305(h); 5 CFR 530.303(d)). In Boston it sets 20 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates; everywhere else in the table the locality rate from OPM's locality table applies. OPM special rate table 001M. Occupation-specific special rate tables are not included.
GS hourly pay 2026 Boston
Hourly pay is the annual rate divided by 2,087 and rounded to the cent, as OPM prints it. Multiply by 80 for the biweekly rate before deductions (5 U.S.C. 5504(b)).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $16.79† (special rate table 001M) | $17.14† (special rate table 001M) | $17.49† (special rate table 001M) | $17.83† (special rate table 001M) | $18.18† (special rate table 001M) | $18.53† (special rate table 001M) | $18.87† (special rate table 001M) | $19.22† (special rate table 001M) | $19.57† (special rate table 001M) | $19.92† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $17.13† (special rate table 001M) | $17.52† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.31† (special rate table 001M) | $18.70† (special rate table 001M) | $19.09† (special rate table 001M) | $19.48† (special rate table 001M) | $19.88† (special rate table 001M) | $20.27† (special rate table 001M) | $20.66† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $17.60 | $18.19 | $18.78 | $19.36 | $19.95 | $20.54 | $21.12 | $21.71 | $22.30 | $22.89 |
| GS-4 | $19.76 | $20.42 | $21.08 | $21.74 | $22.39 | $23.05 | $23.71 | $24.37 | $25.03 | $25.69 |
| GS-5 | $22.11 | $22.84 | $23.58 | $24.32 | $25.05 | $25.79 | $26.53 | $27.26 | $28.00 | $28.74 |
| GS-6 | $24.64 | $25.46 | $26.29 | $27.11 | $27.93 | $28.75 | $29.57 | $30.39 | $31.21 | $32.03 |
| GS-7 | $27.38 | $28.30 | $29.21 | $30.12 | $31.04 | $31.95 | $32.86 | $33.77 | $34.69 | $35.60 |
| GS-8 | $30.33 | $31.34 | $32.35 | $33.36 | $34.37 | $35.38 | $36.39 | $37.40 | $38.41 | $39.42 |
| GS-9 | $33.50 | $34.61 | $35.73 | $36.85 | $37.96 | $39.08 | $40.20 | $41.31 | $42.43 | $43.55 |
| GS-10 | $36.89 | $38.12 | $39.34 | $40.57 | $41.80 | $43.03 | $44.26 | $45.49 | $46.72 | $47.95 |
| GS-11 | $40.53 | $41.88 | $43.23 | $44.58 | $45.93 | $47.28 | $48.63 | $49.99 | $51.34 | $52.69 |
| GS-12 | $48.57 | $50.19 | $51.81 | $53.43 | $55.05 | $56.67 | $58.29 | $59.91 | $61.53 | $63.15 |
| GS-13 | $57.76 | $59.69 | $61.61 | $63.54 | $65.46 | $67.39 | $69.31 | $71.24 | $73.17 | $75.09 |
| GS-14 | $68.26 | $70.53 | $72.81 | $75.08 | $77.36 | $79.63 | $81.91 | $84.19 | $86.46 | $88.74 |
| GS-15 | $80.29 | $82.96 | $85.64 | $88.32 | $90.99 | $93.67 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Boston compared with Rest of U.S.
- Boston has the 7th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (32.58%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Boston runs from $101,375 at step 1 to $131,790 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Boston first reaches $100,000 at GS-10 step 10 ($100,070).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 4 rates in Boston, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 20 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Boston; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,942.
| Grade, step 1 | Boston | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $46,137 | $40,736 | +$5,401 |
| GS-7 | $57,150 | $50,460 | +$6,690 |
| GS-9 | $69,905 | $61,722 | +$8,183 |
| GS-11 | $84,579 | $74,678 | +$9,901 |
| GS-12 | $101,375 | $89,508 | +$11,867 |
| GS-13 | $120,548 | $106,437 | +$14,111 |
| GS-14 | $142,452 | $125,776 | +$16,676 |
| GS-15 | $167,560 | $147,945 | +$19,615 |
Counties in the Boston pay area
The Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT area covers the 31 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Massachusetts: Barnstable County, MA; Bristol County, MA; Dukes County, MA; Essex County, MA; Middlesex County, MA; Nantucket County, MA; Norfolk County, MA; Plymouth County, MA; Suffolk County, MA; Worcester County, MA
Rhode Island: Bristol County, RI; Kent County, RI; Newport County, RI; Providence County, RI; Washington County, RI
New Hampshire: Belknap County, NH; Carroll County, NH; Cheshire County, NH; Grafton County, NH; Hillsborough County, NH; Merrimack County, NH; Rockingham County, NH; Strafford County, NH; Sullivan County, NH
Connecticut: Windham County, CT
Maine: Androscoggin County, ME; Cumberland County, ME; Sagadahoc County, ME; York County, ME
Vermont: Orange County, VT; Windsor County, VT
GS pay scale pages
Boston GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Boston in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Boston pays $101,375 a year in 2026, which is $48.57 per hour or $3,885.60 biweekly before deductions, at 32.58% locality pay. Step 10 pays $131,790. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Boston pays $11,867 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Boston in 2026?
Boston is in OPM's Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay area, which gets 32.58% in 2026, the 7th highest of 58 areas and 15.52 points above Rest of U.S. at 17.06%. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
How much does a GS-7 make in Boston in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Boston runs from $57,150 at step 1 ($27.38 per hour) to $74,297 at step 10 ($35.60 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Boston in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Boston runs from $69,905 at step 1 ($33.50 per hour) to $90,882 at step 10 ($43.55 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Boston in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Boston runs from $120,548 at step 1 to $156,715 at step 10. At step 1 that is $14,111 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Boston in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Boston: $197,200 a year ($94.49 per hour), limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap. The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Boston?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 20 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Boston (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 0, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,942.
Which counties are in the Boston GS locality pay area?
OPM's Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay area covers 31 counties and places in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine and Vermont. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Boston GS pay change in 2027?
The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so every rate on this page is a 2026 rate. Step increases and promotions are separate from the annual raise.
Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.