GS Pay Scale 2026 Denver
Denver GS employees get 30.52% locality pay in 2026 under the Denver-Aurora, CO area, 13.46 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 12th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $99,800 a year ($47.82 per hour), $10,292 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 Denver: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Denver-Aurora, CO locality pay area (30.52%). 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) | $38,576 | $39,782 | $40,989 | $42,195 | $43,401 | $44,607 | $45,813 | $47,019 |
| GS-4 | $40,596 | $41,949 | $43,303 | $44,656 | $46,010 | $47,363 | $48,717 | $50,070 | $51,424 | $52,777 |
| GS-5 | $45,420 | $46,934 | $48,448 | $49,962 | $51,476 | $52,990 | $54,504 | $56,018 | $57,532 | $59,046 |
| GS-6 | $50,630 | $52,318 | $54,005 | $55,693 | $57,381 | $59,068 | $60,756 | $62,443 | $64,131 | $65,819 |
| GS-7 | $56,262 | $58,138 | $60,013 | $61,889 | $63,764 | $65,640 | $67,515 | $69,391 | $71,267 | $73,142 |
| GS-8 | $62,308 | $64,384 | $66,461 | $68,537 | $70,614 | $72,691 | $74,767 | $76,844 | $78,920 | $80,997 |
| GS-9 | $68,819 | $71,114 | $73,408 | $75,703 | $77,997 | $80,292 | $82,587 | $84,881 | $87,176 | $89,470 |
| GS-10 | $75,785 | $78,311 | $80,836 | $83,362 | $85,887 | $88,413 | $90,939 | $93,464 | $95,990 | $98,515 |
| GS-11 | $83,265 | $86,041 | $88,818 | $91,594 | $94,370 | $97,146 | $99,922 | $102,698 | $105,475 | $108,251 |
| GS-12 | $99,800 | $103,126 | $106,453 | $109,780 | $113,107 | $116,434 | $119,761 | $123,088 | $126,415 | $129,742 |
| GS-13 | $118,675 | $122,631 | $126,587 | $130,543 | $134,500 | $138,456 | $142,412 | $146,368 | $150,324 | $154,280 |
| GS-14 | $140,239 | $144,914 | $149,589 | $154,264 | $158,939 | $163,615 | $168,290 | $172,965 | $177,640 | $182,316 |
| GS-15 | $164,956 | $170,455 | $175,954 | $181,453 | $186,952 | $192,450 | $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 Denver it sets 22 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 Denver
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) | $18.48 | $19.06 | $19.64 | $20.22 | $20.80 | $21.37 | $21.95 | $22.53 |
| GS-4 | $19.45 | $20.10 | $20.75 | $21.40 | $22.05 | $22.69 | $23.34 | $23.99 | $24.64 | $25.29 |
| GS-5 | $21.76 | $22.49 | $23.21 | $23.94 | $24.67 | $25.39 | $26.12 | $26.84 | $27.57 | $28.29 |
| GS-6 | $24.26 | $25.07 | $25.88 | $26.69 | $27.49 | $28.30 | $29.11 | $29.92 | $30.73 | $31.54 |
| GS-7 | $26.96 | $27.86 | $28.76 | $29.65 | $30.55 | $31.45 | $32.35 | $33.25 | $34.15 | $35.05 |
| GS-8 | $29.86 | $30.85 | $31.85 | $32.84 | $33.84 | $34.83 | $35.83 | $36.82 | $37.82 | $38.81 |
| GS-9 | $32.98 | $34.07 | $35.17 | $36.27 | $37.37 | $38.47 | $39.57 | $40.67 | $41.77 | $42.87 |
| GS-10 | $36.31 | $37.52 | $38.73 | $39.94 | $41.15 | $42.36 | $43.57 | $44.78 | $45.99 | $47.20 |
| GS-11 | $39.90 | $41.23 | $42.56 | $43.89 | $45.22 | $46.55 | $47.88 | $49.21 | $50.54 | $51.87 |
| GS-12 | $47.82 | $49.41 | $51.01 | $52.60 | $54.20 | $55.79 | $57.38 | $58.98 | $60.57 | $62.17 |
| GS-13 | $56.86 | $58.76 | $60.66 | $62.55 | $64.45 | $66.34 | $68.24 | $70.13 | $72.03 | $73.92 |
| GS-14 | $67.20 | $69.44 | $71.68 | $73.92 | $76.16 | $78.40 | $80.64 | $82.88 | $85.12 | $87.36 |
| GS-15 | $79.04 | $81.67 | $84.31 | $86.94 | $89.58 | $92.21 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Denver compared with Rest of U.S.
- Denver has the 12th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (30.52%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Denver runs from $99,800 at step 1 to $129,742 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Denver first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 8 ($102,698).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 4 rates in Denver, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 22 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Denver; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,477.
| Grade, step 1 | Denver | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $45,420 | $40,736 | +$4,684 |
| GS-7 | $56,262 | $50,460 | +$5,802 |
| GS-9 | $68,819 | $61,722 | +$7,097 |
| GS-11 | $83,265 | $74,678 | +$8,587 |
| GS-12 | $99,800 | $89,508 | +$10,292 |
| GS-13 | $118,675 | $106,437 | +$12,238 |
| GS-14 | $140,239 | $125,776 | +$14,463 |
| GS-15 | $164,956 | $147,945 | +$17,011 |
Counties in the Denver pay area
The Denver-Aurora, CO area covers the 14 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Colorado: Adams County, CO; Arapahoe County, CO; Boulder County, CO; Broomfield County, CO; Clear Creek County, CO; Denver County, CO; Douglas County, CO; Elbert County, CO; Gilpin County, CO; Jefferson County, CO; Larimer County, CO; Lincoln County, CO; Park County, CO; Weld County, CO
GS pay scale pages
Denver GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Denver in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Denver pays $99,800 a year in 2026, which is $47.82 per hour or $3,825.60 biweekly before deductions, at 30.52% locality pay. Step 10 pays $129,742. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Denver pays $10,292 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Denver in 2026?
Denver is in OPM's Denver-Aurora, CO locality pay area, which gets 30.52% in 2026, the 12th highest of 58 areas and 13.46 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 Denver in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Denver runs from $56,262 at step 1 ($26.96 per hour) to $73,142 at step 10 ($35.05 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Denver in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Denver runs from $68,819 at step 1 ($32.98 per hour) to $89,470 at step 10 ($42.87 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Denver in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Denver runs from $118,675 at step 1 to $154,280 at step 10. At step 1 that is $12,238 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Denver in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Denver: $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 Denver?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 22 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Denver (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 2, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,477.
Which counties are in the Denver GS locality pay area?
OPM's Denver-Aurora, CO locality pay area covers 14 counties and places in Colorado. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Denver 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.