GS-10 Pay Scale 2026

GS-10 base pay in 2026 runs from $58,064 at step 1 to $75,479 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $67,970 (Rest of U.S.) to $84,971 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $88,356 (Rest of U.S.) to $110,456 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). New to the table? See how to read the GS pay scale or use the GS pay calculator for your own grade, step and locality.

Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources

GS-10 pay by step

Base pay and the Rest of U.S. rate at each step, with hourly and biweekly pay and the wait for the next step.

GS-10 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$58,064$67,970$32.57$2,605.6052 weeks
Step 2$59,999+$1,935$70,235$33.65$2,692.0052 weeks
Step 3$61,934+$1,935$72,500$34.74$2,779.2052 weeks
Step 4$63,869+$1,935$74,765$35.82$2,865.60104 weeks
Step 5$65,804+$1,935$77,030$36.91$2,952.80104 weeks
Step 6$67,739+$1,935$79,295$37.99$3,039.20104 weeks
Step 7$69,674+$1,935$81,560$39.08$3,126.40156 weeks
Step 8$71,609+$1,935$83,825$40.17$3,213.60156 weeks
Step 9$73,544+$1,935$86,091$41.25$3,300.00156 weeks
Step 10$75,479+$1,935$88,356$42.34$3,387.20Top step

GS-10 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($58,064) to step 10 ($75,479).
  • GS-11 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($74,678) is $13,678 below GS-10 step 10 ($88,356).
  • 7 of 58 areas pay GS-10 $100,000 or more at step 10; none do at step 1.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $17,001 at step 1 and $22,100 at step 10.
  • No GS-10 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $110,456 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-10 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $67,970 (Rest of U.S.) to $84,971 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $88,356 (Rest of U.S.) to $110,456 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-10 pay by locality

Annual pay in all 58 locality pay areas, highest locality percentage first. An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap.

GS-10 annual pay at step 1 and step 10 in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaLocality %Step 1Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA46.34%$84,971$110,456
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$80,099$104,123
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$79,240$103,006
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$78,386$101,897
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$77,771$101,097
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$77,643$100,931
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$76,981$100,070
State of Alaska32.36%$76,854$99,904
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$76,691$99,693
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$76,395$99,308
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$75,983$98,772
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$75,785$98,515
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$75,344$97,942
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$74,972$97,458
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$74,897$97,360
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$74,101$96,326
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$73,892$96,055
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$73,236$95,202
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$72,388$94,100
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$71,877$93,435
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$71,099$92,424
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$71,082$92,401
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$71,076$92,394
Richmond, VA22.28%$71,001$92,296
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$70,977$92,266
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$70,972$92,258
State of Hawaii22.21%$70,960$92,243
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$70,925$92,198
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$70,797$92,032
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$70,786$92,016
Laredo, TX21.59%$70,600$91,775
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$70,501$91,647
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$70,275$91,352
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$70,124$91,156
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$69,880$90,839
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$69,764$90,688
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$69,694$90,597
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$69,485$90,326
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$69,427$90,250
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$69,357$90,160
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$69,346$90,145
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$69,259$90,031
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$69,079$89,797
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$69,056$89,767
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$68,980$89,669
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$68,968$89,654
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$68,707$89,314
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$68,655$89,246
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$68,649$89,239
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$68,603$89,178
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$68,521$89,073
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$68,475$89,012
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$68,446$88,975
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$68,324$88,816
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$68,312$88,801
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$68,301$88,786
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$68,237$88,703
Rest of U.S.17.06%$67,970$88,356
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-10 annual pay at every step in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$84,971$87,803$90,634$93,466$96,298$99,129$101,961$104,793$107,624$110,456
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$80,099$82,769$85,438$88,107$90,777$93,446$96,115$98,785$101,454$104,123
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$79,240$81,881$84,521$87,162$89,803$92,443$95,084$97,725$100,365$103,006
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$78,386$80,999$83,611$86,223$88,835$91,448$94,060$96,672$99,284$101,897
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$77,771$80,363$82,954$85,546$88,138$90,730$93,321$95,913$98,505$101,097
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$77,643$80,231$82,818$85,406$87,993$90,581$93,168$95,756$98,343$100,931
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$76,981$79,547$82,112$84,678$87,243$89,808$92,374$94,939$97,505$100,070
State of Alaska$76,854$79,415$81,976$84,537$87,098$89,659$92,221$94,782$97,343$99,904
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$76,691$79,247$81,802$84,358$86,914$89,470$92,025$94,581$97,137$99,693
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$76,395$78,941$81,487$84,032$86,578$89,124$91,670$94,216$96,762$99,308
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$75,983$78,515$81,047$83,579$86,111$88,643$91,175$93,708$96,240$98,772
Denver-Aurora, CO$75,785$78,311$80,836$83,362$85,887$88,413$90,939$93,464$95,990$98,515
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$75,344$77,855$80,366$82,876$85,387$87,898$90,409$92,920$95,431$97,942
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$74,972$77,471$79,969$82,468$84,966$87,465$89,963$92,462$94,960$97,458
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$74,897$77,393$79,889$82,385$84,881$87,377$89,872$92,368$94,864$97,360
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$74,101$76,571$79,040$81,510$83,979$86,449$88,918$91,387$93,857$96,326
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$73,892$76,355$78,817$81,280$83,742$86,205$88,667$91,130$93,592$96,055
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$73,236$75,677$78,117$80,558$82,999$85,439$87,880$90,320$92,761$95,202
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$72,388$74,801$77,213$79,625$82,038$84,450$86,863$89,275$91,687$94,100
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$71,877$74,273$76,668$79,063$81,459$83,854$86,249$88,645$91,040$93,435
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$71,099$73,469$75,838$78,208$80,577$82,946$85,316$87,685$90,055$92,424
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$71,082$73,451$75,820$78,188$80,557$82,926$85,295$87,664$90,033$92,401
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$71,076$73,445$75,813$78,182$80,551$82,919$85,288$87,657$90,025$92,394
Richmond, VA$71,001$73,367$75,733$78,099$80,465$82,831$85,197$87,563$89,930$92,296
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$70,977$73,343$75,708$78,073$80,439$82,804$85,169$87,535$89,900$92,266
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$70,972$73,337$75,702$78,067$80,432$82,797$85,163$87,528$89,893$92,258
State of Hawaii$70,960$73,325$75,690$78,054$80,419$82,784$85,149$87,513$89,878$92,243
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$70,925$73,289$75,652$78,016$80,380$82,743$85,107$87,470$89,834$92,198
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$70,797$73,157$75,516$77,875$80,235$82,594$84,954$87,313$89,672$92,032
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$70,786$73,145$75,504$77,863$80,222$82,581$84,940$87,299$89,657$92,016
Laredo, TX$70,600$72,953$75,306$77,658$80,011$82,364$84,717$87,069$89,422$91,775
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$70,501$72,851$75,200$77,550$79,899$82,249$84,598$86,948$89,297$91,647
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$70,275$72,617$74,959$77,301$79,643$81,985$84,326$86,668$89,010$91,352
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$70,124$72,461$74,798$77,135$79,471$81,808$84,145$86,482$88,819$91,156
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$69,880$72,209$74,538$76,866$79,195$81,524$83,853$86,181$88,510$90,839
Colorado Springs, CO$69,764$72,089$74,414$76,739$79,064$81,388$83,713$86,038$88,363$90,688
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$69,694$72,017$74,339$76,662$78,985$81,307$83,630$85,952$88,275$90,597
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$69,485$71,801$74,116$76,432$78,748$81,063$83,379$85,694$88,010$90,326
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$69,427$71,741$74,054$76,368$78,682$80,996$83,309$85,623$87,937$90,250
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$69,357$71,669$73,980$76,292$78,603$80,914$83,226$85,537$87,848$90,160
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$69,346$71,657$73,968$76,279$78,590$80,901$83,212$85,523$87,834$90,145
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$69,259$71,567$73,875$76,183$78,491$80,799$83,107$85,415$87,723$90,031
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$69,079$71,381$73,683$75,985$78,287$80,589$82,891$85,193$87,495$89,797
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$69,056$71,357$73,658$75,959$78,261$80,562$82,863$85,165$87,466$89,767
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$68,980$71,279$73,578$75,876$78,175$80,474$82,773$85,071$87,370$89,669
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$68,968$71,267$73,565$75,864$78,162$80,460$82,759$85,057$87,356$89,654
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$68,707$70,997$73,287$75,576$77,866$80,156$82,445$84,735$87,025$89,314
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$68,655$70,943$73,231$75,519$77,807$80,095$82,383$84,670$86,958$89,246
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$68,649$70,937$73,225$75,512$77,800$80,088$82,376$84,663$86,951$89,239
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$68,603$70,889$73,175$75,461$77,747$80,034$82,320$84,606$86,892$89,178
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$68,521$70,805$73,088$75,372$77,655$79,939$82,222$84,506$86,789$89,073
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$68,475$70,757$73,039$75,321$77,603$79,885$82,167$84,448$86,730$89,012
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$68,446$70,727$73,008$75,289$77,570$79,851$82,132$84,413$86,694$88,975
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$68,324$70,601$72,878$75,155$77,432$79,708$81,985$84,262$86,539$88,816
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$68,312$70,589$72,865$75,142$77,418$79,695$81,971$84,248$86,525$88,801
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$68,301$70,577$72,853$75,129$77,405$79,681$81,958$84,234$86,510$88,786
Reno-Fernley, NV$68,237$70,511$72,785$75,059$77,333$79,607$81,881$84,155$86,429$88,703
Rest of U.S.$67,970$70,235$72,500$74,765$77,030$79,295$81,560$83,825$86,091$88,356

No GS-10 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-10 hourly and biweekly pay

Hourly and biweekly rates for Rest of U.S., Washington and the largest metro areas, at the first and last step.

GS-10 hourly and biweekly pay in the largest locality pay areas, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1 hourlyStep 1 biweeklyStep 10 hourlyStep 10 biweekly
Rest of U.S.$32.57$2,605.60$42.34$3,387.20
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$37.26$2,980.80$48.44$3,875.20
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$38.38$3,070.40$49.89$3,991.20
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$37.97$3,037.60$49.36$3,948.80
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$36.41$2,912.80$47.33$3,786.40
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$40.71$3,256.80$52.93$4,234.40

GS-10 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $20,386 a year in Rest of U.S. at 2026 rates. Waiting periods follow 5 CFR 531.405; the GS pay calculator dates your own next increase.

GS-10 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$1,935+$2,265
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$1,935+$2,266
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$1,935+$2,265

Promotion examples

Examples for a step 5 employee in Rest of U.S. under the two-step promotion rule. Your own result depends on your step, locality and pay history.

  • Into GS-10: GS-9 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($69,954) promoted to GS-10 lands at step 4 ($74,765), a raise of $4,811 a year.
  • Out of GS-10: GS-10 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($77,030) promoted to GS-11 lands at step 4 ($82,148), a raise of $5,118 a year.

GS-10 pay questions

How much does a GS-10 make in 2026?

GS-10 base pay is $58,064 at step 1 and $75,479 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $67,970 to $88,356. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $67,970 (Rest of U.S.) to $84,971 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $88,356 (Rest of U.S.) to $110,456 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-10 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-10 pay is $77,771 at step 1 and $101,097 at step 10, or $37.26 to $48.44 per hour.

How much does a GS-10 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-10 pay there is $84,971 at step 1 and $110,456 at step 10, or $40.71 to $52.93 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-10 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-10 step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks, or 18 years, with three increases after 52 weeks, three after 104 weeks and three after 156 weeks. Base pay rises $1,935 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $20,386 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($67,970 to $88,356).

What is the GS-10 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-10 hourly rate is $32.57 at step 1 and $42.34 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $2,605.60 to $3,387.20 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $37.26 per hour.

Will GS-10 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-10 rates on this page are 2026 only. Step increases are separate from the annual raise. See federal pay raise 2027 for the status.

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.