GS Pay Scale 2026 Cincinnati
Cincinnati GS employees get 21.93% locality pay in 2026 under the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN area, 4.87 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 29th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,231 a year ($44.67 per hour), $3,723 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 Cincinnati: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN locality pay area (21.93%). 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 | $37,924 | $39,188 | $40,453 | $41,717 | $42,982 | $44,246 | $45,510 | $46,775 | $48,039 | $49,304 |
| GS-5 | $42,430 | $43,845 | $45,259 | $46,674 | $48,088 | $49,502 | $50,917 | $52,331 | $53,746 | $55,160 |
| GS-6 | $47,298 | $48,874 | $50,451 | $52,028 | $53,604 | $55,181 | $56,757 | $58,334 | $59,910 | $61,487 |
| GS-7 | $52,559 | $54,311 | $56,063 | $57,816 | $59,568 | $61,320 | $63,072 | $64,824 | $66,576 | $68,328 |
| GS-8 | $58,207 | $60,147 | $62,087 | $64,027 | $65,967 | $67,906 | $69,846 | $71,786 | $73,726 | $75,666 |
| GS-9 | $64,290 | $66,434 | $68,577 | $70,721 | $72,864 | $75,008 | $77,151 | $79,295 | $81,438 | $83,582 |
| GS-10 | $70,797 | $73,157 | $75,516 | $77,875 | $80,235 | $82,594 | $84,954 | $87,313 | $89,672 | $92,032 |
| GS-11 | $77,785 | $80,379 | $82,972 | $85,566 | $88,159 | $90,752 | $93,346 | $95,939 | $98,533 | $101,126 |
| GS-12 | $93,231 | $96,339 | $99,447 | $102,555 | $105,663 | $108,771 | $111,879 | $114,987 | $118,095 | $121,203 |
| GS-13 | $110,865 | $114,561 | $118,256 | $121,952 | $125,648 | $129,343 | $133,039 | $136,735 | $140,430 | $144,126 |
| GS-14 | $131,009 | $135,376 | $139,744 | $144,112 | $148,479 | $152,847 | $157,214 | $161,582 | $165,949 | $170,317 |
| GS-15 | $154,100 | $159,237 | $164,374 | $169,511 | $174,648 | $179,785 | $184,921 | $190,058 | $195,195 | $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 Cincinnati 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 Cincinnati
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 | $18.17 | $18.78 | $19.38 | $19.99 | $20.60 | $21.20 | $21.81 | $22.41 | $23.02 | $23.62 |
| GS-5 | $20.33 | $21.01 | $21.69 | $22.36 | $23.04 | $23.72 | $24.40 | $25.07 | $25.75 | $26.43 |
| GS-6 | $22.66 | $23.42 | $24.17 | $24.93 | $25.68 | $26.44 | $27.20 | $27.95 | $28.71 | $29.46 |
| GS-7 | $25.18 | $26.02 | $26.86 | $27.70 | $28.54 | $29.38 | $30.22 | $31.06 | $31.90 | $32.74 |
| GS-8 | $27.89 | $28.82 | $29.75 | $30.68 | $31.61 | $32.54 | $33.47 | $34.40 | $35.33 | $36.26 |
| GS-9 | $30.80 | $31.83 | $32.86 | $33.89 | $34.91 | $35.94 | $36.97 | $37.99 | $39.02 | $40.05 |
| GS-10 | $33.92 | $35.05 | $36.18 | $37.31 | $38.45 | $39.58 | $40.71 | $41.84 | $42.97 | $44.10 |
| GS-11 | $37.27 | $38.51 | $39.76 | $41.00 | $42.24 | $43.48 | $44.73 | $45.97 | $47.21 | $48.46 |
| GS-12 | $44.67 | $46.16 | $47.65 | $49.14 | $50.63 | $52.12 | $53.61 | $55.10 | $56.59 | $58.08 |
| GS-13 | $53.12 | $54.89 | $56.66 | $58.43 | $60.21 | $61.98 | $63.75 | $65.52 | $67.29 | $69.06 |
| GS-14 | $62.77 | $64.87 | $66.96 | $69.05 | $71.14 | $73.24 | $75.33 | $77.42 | $79.52 | $81.61 |
| GS-15 | $73.84 | $76.30 | $78.76 | $81.22 | $83.68 | $86.15 | $88.61 | $91.07 | $93.53 | $94.49 |
Cincinnati compared with Rest of U.S.
- Cincinnati has the 29th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (21.93%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Cincinnati runs from $93,231 at step 1 to $121,203 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Cincinnati first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,126).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Cincinnati, 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 Cincinnati; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,537.
| Grade, step 1 | Cincinnati | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,430 | $40,736 | +$1,694 |
| GS-7 | $52,559 | $50,460 | +$2,099 |
| GS-9 | $64,290 | $61,722 | +$2,568 |
| GS-11 | $77,785 | $74,678 | +$3,107 |
| GS-12 | $93,231 | $89,508 | +$3,723 |
| GS-13 | $110,865 | $106,437 | +$4,428 |
| GS-14 | $131,009 | $125,776 | +$5,233 |
| GS-15 | $154,100 | $147,945 | +$6,155 |
Counties in the Cincinnati pay area
The Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN area covers the 27 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Ohio: Adams County, OH; Brown County, OH; Butler County, OH; Clermont County, OH; Clinton County, OH; Hamilton County, OH; Highland County, OH; Warren County, OH
Kentucky: Boone County, KY; Bracken County, KY; Campbell County, KY; Carroll County, KY; Fleming County, KY; Gallatin County, KY; Grant County, KY; Kenton County, KY; Lewis County, KY; Mason County, KY; Owen County, KY; Pendleton County, KY; Robertson County, KY
Indiana: Dearborn County, IN; Franklin County, IN; Ohio County, IN; Ripley County, IN; Switzerland County, IN; Union County, IN
GS pay scale pages
Cincinnati GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Cincinnati in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Cincinnati pays $93,231 a year in 2026, which is $44.67 per hour or $3,573.60 biweekly before deductions, at 21.93% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,203. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Cincinnati pays $3,723 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Cincinnati in 2026?
Cincinnati is in OPM's Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN locality pay area, which gets 21.93% in 2026, the 29th highest of 58 areas and 4.87 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 Cincinnati in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Cincinnati runs from $52,559 at step 1 ($25.18 per hour) to $68,328 at step 10 ($32.74 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Cincinnati in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Cincinnati runs from $64,290 at step 1 ($30.80 per hour) to $83,582 at step 10 ($40.05 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Cincinnati in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Cincinnati runs from $110,865 at step 1 to $144,126 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,428 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Cincinnati in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Cincinnati: $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 Cincinnati?
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 Cincinnati (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 $27,537.
Which counties are in the Cincinnati GS locality pay area?
OPM's Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN locality pay area covers 27 counties and places in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Cincinnati 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.