GS Pay Scale 2026 Buffalo
Buffalo GS employees get 22.41% locality pay in 2026 under the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY area, 5.35 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 23rd highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,598 a year ($44.85 per hour), $4,090 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 Buffalo: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY locality pay area (22.41%). 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 | $36,464† (special rate table 001M) | $37,388† (special rate table 001M) | $38,312† (special rate table 001M) | $39,236† (special rate table 001M) | $40,160† (special rate table 001M) | $41,084† (special rate table 001M) | $42,008† (special rate table 001M) | $42,932† (special rate table 001M) | $43,856† (special rate table 001M) | $44,780† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $38,073 | $39,343 | $40,612 | $41,881 | $43,151 | $44,420 | $45,690 | $46,959 | $48,228 | $49,498 |
| GS-5 | $42,597 | $44,017 | $45,437 | $46,857 | $48,277 | $49,697 | $51,117 | $52,537 | $53,957 | $55,377 |
| GS-6 | $47,484 | $49,067 | $50,650 | $52,232 | $53,815 | $55,398 | $56,981 | $58,563 | $60,146 | $61,729 |
| GS-7 | $52,766 | $54,525 | $56,284 | $58,043 | $59,802 | $61,561 | $63,320 | $65,079 | $66,838 | $68,597 |
| GS-8 | $58,436 | $60,384 | $62,331 | $64,279 | $66,226 | $68,174 | $70,121 | $72,069 | $74,016 | $75,964 |
| GS-9 | $64,543 | $66,695 | $68,847 | $70,999 | $73,151 | $75,303 | $77,455 | $79,607 | $81,759 | $83,911 |
| GS-10 | $71,076 | $73,445 | $75,813 | $78,182 | $80,551 | $82,919 | $85,288 | $87,657 | $90,025 | $92,394 |
| GS-11 | $78,091 | $80,695 | $83,299 | $85,902 | $88,506 | $91,110 | $93,713 | $96,317 | $98,921 | $101,524 |
| GS-12 | $93,598 | $96,719 | $99,839 | $102,959 | $106,079 | $109,200 | $112,320 | $115,440 | $118,560 | $121,680 |
| GS-13 | $111,301 | $115,012 | $118,722 | $122,432 | $126,142 | $129,853 | $133,563 | $137,273 | $140,983 | $144,694 |
| GS-14 | $131,525 | $135,909 | $140,294 | $144,679 | $149,064 | $153,448 | $157,833 | $162,218 | $166,602 | $170,987 |
| GS-15 | $154,707 | $159,864 | $165,021 | $170,178 | $175,335 | $180,492 | $185,649 | $190,807 | $195,964 | $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 Buffalo it sets 30 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 Buffalo
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 | $17.47† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.36† (special rate table 001M) | $18.80† (special rate table 001M) | $19.24† (special rate table 001M) | $19.69† (special rate table 001M) | $20.13† (special rate table 001M) | $20.57† (special rate table 001M) | $21.01† (special rate table 001M) | $21.46† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $18.24 | $18.85 | $19.46 | $20.07 | $20.68 | $21.28 | $21.89 | $22.50 | $23.11 | $23.72 |
| GS-5 | $20.41 | $21.09 | $21.77 | $22.45 | $23.13 | $23.81 | $24.49 | $25.17 | $25.85 | $26.53 |
| GS-6 | $22.75 | $23.51 | $24.27 | $25.03 | $25.79 | $26.54 | $27.30 | $28.06 | $28.82 | $29.58 |
| GS-7 | $25.28 | $26.13 | $26.97 | $27.81 | $28.65 | $29.50 | $30.34 | $31.18 | $32.03 | $32.87 |
| GS-8 | $28.00 | $28.93 | $29.87 | $30.80 | $31.73 | $32.67 | $33.60 | $34.53 | $35.47 | $36.40 |
| GS-9 | $30.93 | $31.96 | $32.99 | $34.02 | $35.05 | $36.08 | $37.11 | $38.14 | $39.18 | $40.21 |
| GS-10 | $34.06 | $35.19 | $36.33 | $37.46 | $38.60 | $39.73 | $40.87 | $42.00 | $43.14 | $44.27 |
| GS-11 | $37.42 | $38.67 | $39.91 | $41.16 | $42.41 | $43.66 | $44.90 | $46.15 | $47.40 | $48.65 |
| GS-12 | $44.85 | $46.34 | $47.84 | $49.33 | $50.83 | $52.32 | $53.82 | $55.31 | $56.81 | $58.30 |
| GS-13 | $53.33 | $55.11 | $56.89 | $58.66 | $60.44 | $62.22 | $64.00 | $65.78 | $67.55 | $69.33 |
| GS-14 | $63.02 | $65.12 | $67.22 | $69.32 | $71.43 | $73.53 | $75.63 | $77.73 | $79.83 | $81.93 |
| GS-15 | $74.13 | $76.60 | $79.07 | $81.54 | $84.01 | $86.48 | $88.95 | $91.43 | $93.90 | $94.49 |
Buffalo compared with Rest of U.S.
- Buffalo has the 23rd highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (22.41%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Buffalo runs from $93,598 at step 1 to $121,680 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Buffalo first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,524).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Buffalo, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Buffalo; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,645.
| Grade, step 1 | Buffalo | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,597 | $40,736 | +$1,861 |
| GS-7 | $52,766 | $50,460 | +$2,306 |
| GS-9 | $64,543 | $61,722 | +$2,821 |
| GS-11 | $78,091 | $74,678 | +$3,413 |
| GS-12 | $93,598 | $89,508 | +$4,090 |
| GS-13 | $111,301 | $106,437 | +$4,864 |
| GS-14 | $131,525 | $125,776 | +$5,749 |
| GS-15 | $154,707 | $147,945 | +$6,762 |
Counties in the Buffalo pay area
The Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY area covers the 5 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
New York: Allegany County, NY; Cattaraugus County, NY; Erie County, NY; Niagara County, NY; Wyoming County, NY
GS pay scale pages
Buffalo GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Buffalo in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Buffalo pays $93,598 a year in 2026, which is $44.85 per hour or $3,588.00 biweekly before deductions, at 22.41% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,680. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Buffalo pays $4,090 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Buffalo in 2026?
Buffalo is in OPM's Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY locality pay area, which gets 22.41% in 2026, the 23rd highest of 58 areas and 5.35 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 Buffalo in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Buffalo runs from $52,766 at step 1 ($25.28 per hour) to $68,597 at step 10 ($32.87 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Buffalo in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Buffalo runs from $64,543 at step 1 ($30.93 per hour) to $83,911 at step 10 ($40.21 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Buffalo in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Buffalo runs from $111,301 at step 1 to $144,694 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,864 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Buffalo in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Buffalo: $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 Buffalo?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Buffalo (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 10, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,645.
Which counties are in the Buffalo GS locality pay area?
OPM's Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY locality pay area covers 5 counties and places in New York. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Buffalo 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.