GS Pay Scale 2026 Charlotte
Charlotte GS employees get 19.67% locality pay in 2026 under the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC area, 2.61 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 38th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $91,503 a year ($43.84 per hour), $1,995 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $196,619 (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 Charlotte: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC locality pay area (19.67%). 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 | $37,221 | $38,462 | $39,703 | $40,944 | $42,185 | $43,426 | $44,667 | $45,908 | $47,149 | $48,390 |
| GS-5 | $41,644 | $43,032 | $44,420 | $45,808 | $47,197 | $48,585 | $49,973 | $51,361 | $52,749 | $54,138 |
| GS-6 | $46,421 | $47,969 | $49,516 | $51,063 | $52,611 | $54,158 | $55,705 | $57,253 | $58,800 | $60,347 |
| GS-7 | $51,585 | $53,305 | $55,024 | $56,744 | $58,464 | $60,183 | $61,903 | $63,623 | $65,342 | $67,062 |
| GS-8 | $57,128 | $59,032 | $60,936 | $62,840 | $64,744 | $66,648 | $68,552 | $70,456 | $72,360 | $74,264 |
| GS-9 | $63,098 | $65,202 | $67,306 | $69,410 | $71,514 | $73,617 | $75,721 | $77,825 | $79,929 | $82,033 |
| GS-10 | $69,485 | $71,801 | $74,116 | $76,432 | $78,748 | $81,063 | $83,379 | $85,694 | $88,010 | $90,326 |
| GS-11 | $76,343 | $78,889 | $81,434 | $83,980 | $86,525 | $89,070 | $91,616 | $94,161 | $96,707 | $99,252 |
| GS-12 | $91,503 | $94,554 | $97,604 | $100,654 | $103,705 | $106,755 | $109,806 | $112,856 | $115,906 | $118,957 |
| GS-13 | $108,810 | $112,437 | $116,064 | $119,692 | $123,319 | $126,946 | $130,573 | $134,200 | $137,828 | $141,455 |
| GS-14 | $128,581 | $132,867 | $137,154 | $141,440 | $145,727 | $150,014 | $154,300 | $158,587 | $162,873 | $167,160 |
| GS-15 | $151,244 | $156,285 | $161,327 | $166,369 | $171,411 | $176,452 | $181,494 | $186,536 | $191,577 | $196,619 |
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 Charlotte 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 Charlotte
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 | $17.83 | $18.43 | $19.02 | $19.62 | $20.21 | $20.81 | $21.40 | $22.00 | $22.59 | $23.19 |
| GS-5 | $19.95 | $20.62 | $21.28 | $21.95 | $22.61 | $23.28 | $23.94 | $24.61 | $25.28 | $25.94 |
| GS-6 | $22.24 | $22.98 | $23.73 | $24.47 | $25.21 | $25.95 | $26.69 | $27.43 | $28.17 | $28.92 |
| GS-7 | $24.72 | $25.54 | $26.37 | $27.19 | $28.01 | $28.84 | $29.66 | $30.49 | $31.31 | $32.13 |
| GS-8 | $27.37 | $28.29 | $29.20 | $30.11 | $31.02 | $31.93 | $32.85 | $33.76 | $34.67 | $35.58 |
| GS-9 | $30.23 | $31.24 | $32.25 | $33.26 | $34.27 | $35.27 | $36.28 | $37.29 | $38.30 | $39.31 |
| GS-10 | $33.29 | $34.40 | $35.51 | $36.62 | $37.73 | $38.84 | $39.95 | $41.06 | $42.17 | $43.28 |
| GS-11 | $36.58 | $37.80 | $39.02 | $40.24 | $41.46 | $42.68 | $43.90 | $45.12 | $46.34 | $47.56 |
| GS-12 | $43.84 | $45.31 | $46.77 | $48.23 | $49.69 | $51.15 | $52.61 | $54.08 | $55.54 | $57.00 |
| GS-13 | $52.14 | $53.87 | $55.61 | $57.35 | $59.09 | $60.83 | $62.56 | $64.30 | $66.04 | $67.78 |
| GS-14 | $61.61 | $63.66 | $65.72 | $67.77 | $69.83 | $71.88 | $73.93 | $75.99 | $78.04 | $80.10 |
| GS-15 | $72.47 | $74.89 | $77.30 | $79.72 | $82.13 | $84.55 | $86.96 | $89.38 | $91.80 | $94.21 |
Charlotte compared with Rest of U.S.
- Charlotte has the 38th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (19.67%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Charlotte runs from $91,503 at step 1 to $118,957 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Charlotte first reaches $100,000 at GS-12 step 4 ($100,654).
- No rate in Charlotte reaches the $197,200 cap; GS-15 runs from $151,244 to $196,619.
- Special rate table 001M sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Charlotte; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,026.
| Grade, step 1 | Charlotte | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $41,644 | $40,736 | +$908 |
| GS-7 | $51,585 | $50,460 | +$1,125 |
| GS-9 | $63,098 | $61,722 | +$1,376 |
| GS-11 | $76,343 | $74,678 | +$1,665 |
| GS-12 | $91,503 | $89,508 | +$1,995 |
| GS-13 | $108,810 | $106,437 | +$2,373 |
| GS-14 | $128,581 | $125,776 | +$2,805 |
| GS-15 | $151,244 | $147,945 | +$3,299 |
Counties in the Charlotte pay area
The Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC area covers the 18 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
North Carolina: Alexander County, NC; Anson County, NC; Burke County, NC; Cabarrus County, NC; Caldwell County, NC; Catawba County, NC; Cleveland County, NC; Gaston County, NC; Iredell County, NC; Lincoln County, NC; Mecklenburg County, NC; Rowan County, NC; Stanly County, NC; Union County, NC
South Carolina: Chester County, SC; Chesterfield County, SC; Lancaster County, SC; York County, SC
GS pay scale pages
Charlotte GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Charlotte in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Charlotte pays $91,503 a year in 2026, which is $43.84 per hour or $3,507.20 biweekly before deductions, at 19.67% locality pay. Step 10 pays $118,957. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Charlotte pays $1,995 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Charlotte in 2026?
Charlotte is in OPM's Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC locality pay area, which gets 19.67% in 2026, the 38th highest of 58 areas and 2.61 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 Charlotte in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Charlotte runs from $51,585 at step 1 ($24.72 per hour) to $67,062 at step 10 ($32.13 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Charlotte in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Charlotte runs from $63,098 at step 1 ($30.23 per hour) to $82,033 at step 10 ($39.31 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Charlotte in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Charlotte runs from $108,810 at step 1 to $141,455 at step 10. At step 1 that is $2,373 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Charlotte in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Charlotte: $196,619 a year ($94.21 per hour). The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Charlotte?
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 Charlotte (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 $27,026.
Which counties are in the Charlotte GS locality pay area?
OPM's Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC locality pay area covers 18 counties and places in North Carolina and South Carolina. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Charlotte 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.