GS Pay Scale 2026 Columbus OH
Columbus OH GS employees get 22.15% locality pay in 2026 under the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH area, 5.09 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 28th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,400 a year ($44.75 per hour), $3,892 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 Columbus OH: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH locality pay area (22.15%). 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 | $37,992 | $39,259 | $40,526 | $41,792 | $43,059 | $44,326 | $45,592 | $46,859 | $48,126 | $49,393 |
| GS-5 | $42,507 | $43,924 | $45,341 | $46,758 | $48,175 | $49,592 | $51,009 | $52,426 | $53,842 | $55,259 |
| GS-6 | $47,383 | $48,963 | $50,542 | $52,121 | $53,701 | $55,280 | $56,860 | $58,439 | $60,018 | $61,598 |
| GS-7 | $52,654 | $54,409 | $56,165 | $57,920 | $59,675 | $61,430 | $63,186 | $64,941 | $66,696 | $68,452 |
| GS-8 | $58,312 | $60,255 | $62,199 | $64,142 | $66,086 | $68,029 | $69,972 | $71,916 | $73,859 | $75,803 |
| GS-9 | $64,406 | $66,553 | $68,701 | $70,848 | $72,996 | $75,143 | $77,290 | $79,438 | $81,585 | $83,733 |
| GS-10 | $70,925 | $73,289 | $75,652 | $78,016 | $80,380 | $82,743 | $85,107 | $87,470 | $89,834 | $92,198 |
| GS-11 | $77,926 | $80,524 | $83,122 | $85,720 | $88,318 | $90,916 | $93,514 | $96,113 | $98,711 | $101,309 |
| GS-12 | $93,400 | $96,513 | $99,627 | $102,740 | $105,854 | $108,968 | $112,081 | $115,195 | $118,308 | $121,422 |
| GS-13 | $111,065 | $114,767 | $118,470 | $122,172 | $125,874 | $129,577 | $133,279 | $136,981 | $140,684 | $144,386 |
| GS-14 | $131,245 | $135,621 | $139,996 | $144,372 | $148,747 | $153,122 | $157,498 | $161,873 | $166,249 | $170,624 |
| GS-15 | $154,378 | $159,524 | $164,670 | $169,817 | $174,963 | $180,109 | $185,255 | $190,401 | $195,547 | $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 Columbus OH 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 Columbus OH
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 | $18.20 | $18.81 | $19.42 | $20.02 | $20.63 | $21.24 | $21.85 | $22.45 | $23.06 | $23.67 |
| GS-5 | $20.37 | $21.05 | $21.73 | $22.40 | $23.08 | $23.76 | $24.44 | $25.12 | $25.80 | $26.48 |
| GS-6 | $22.70 | $23.46 | $24.22 | $24.97 | $25.73 | $26.49 | $27.24 | $28.00 | $28.76 | $29.52 |
| GS-7 | $25.23 | $26.07 | $26.91 | $27.75 | $28.59 | $29.43 | $30.28 | $31.12 | $31.96 | $32.80 |
| GS-8 | $27.94 | $28.87 | $29.80 | $30.73 | $31.67 | $32.60 | $33.53 | $34.46 | $35.39 | $36.32 |
| GS-9 | $30.86 | $31.89 | $32.92 | $33.95 | $34.98 | $36.01 | $37.03 | $38.06 | $39.09 | $40.12 |
| GS-10 | $33.98 | $35.12 | $36.25 | $37.38 | $38.51 | $39.65 | $40.78 | $41.91 | $43.04 | $44.18 |
| GS-11 | $37.34 | $38.58 | $39.83 | $41.07 | $42.32 | $43.56 | $44.81 | $46.05 | $47.30 | $48.54 |
| GS-12 | $44.75 | $46.24 | $47.74 | $49.23 | $50.72 | $52.21 | $53.70 | $55.20 | $56.69 | $58.18 |
| GS-13 | $53.22 | $54.99 | $56.77 | $58.54 | $60.31 | $62.09 | $63.86 | $65.64 | $67.41 | $69.18 |
| GS-14 | $62.89 | $64.98 | $67.08 | $69.18 | $71.27 | $73.37 | $75.47 | $77.56 | $79.66 | $81.76 |
| GS-15 | $73.97 | $76.44 | $78.90 | $81.37 | $83.83 | $86.30 | $88.77 | $91.23 | $93.70 | $94.49 |
Columbus OH compared with Rest of U.S.
- Columbus OH has the 28th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (22.15%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Columbus OH runs from $93,400 at step 1 to $121,422 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Columbus OH first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,309).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Columbus OH, 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 Columbus OH; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,586.
| Grade, step 1 | Columbus OH | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,507 | $40,736 | +$1,771 |
| GS-7 | $52,654 | $50,460 | +$2,194 |
| GS-9 | $64,406 | $61,722 | +$2,684 |
| GS-11 | $77,926 | $74,678 | +$3,248 |
| GS-12 | $93,400 | $89,508 | +$3,892 |
| GS-13 | $111,065 | $106,437 | +$4,628 |
| GS-14 | $131,245 | $125,776 | +$5,469 |
| GS-15 | $154,378 | $147,945 | +$6,433 |
Counties in the Columbus OH pay area
The Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH area covers the 23 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Ohio: Coshocton County, OH; Delaware County, OH; Fairfield County, OH; Fayette County, OH; Franklin County, OH; Guernsey County, OH; Hardin County, OH; Hocking County, OH; Knox County, OH; Licking County, OH; Logan County, OH; Madison County, OH; Marion County, OH; Morgan County, OH; Morrow County, OH; Muskingum County, OH; Noble County, OH; Perry County, OH; Pickaway County, OH; Pike County, OH; Ross County, OH; Union County, OH; Vinton County, OH
GS pay scale pages
Columbus OH GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Columbus OH in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Columbus OH pays $93,400 a year in 2026, which is $44.75 per hour or $3,580.00 biweekly before deductions, at 22.15% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,422. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Columbus OH pays $3,892 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Columbus OH in 2026?
Columbus OH is in OPM's Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH locality pay area, which gets 22.15% in 2026, the 28th highest of 58 areas and 5.09 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 Columbus OH in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Columbus OH runs from $52,654 at step 1 ($25.23 per hour) to $68,452 at step 10 ($32.80 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Columbus OH in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Columbus OH runs from $64,406 at step 1 ($30.86 per hour) to $83,733 at step 10 ($40.12 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Columbus OH in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Columbus OH runs from $111,065 at step 1 to $144,386 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,628 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Columbus OH in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Columbus OH: $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 Columbus OH?
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 Columbus OH (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 $27,586.
Which counties are in the Columbus OH GS locality pay area?
OPM's Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH locality pay area covers 23 counties and places in Ohio. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Columbus OH 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.