GS-6 Pay Scale 2026

GS-6 base pay in 2026 runs from $38,791 at step 1 to $50,428 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $45,409 (Rest of U.S.) to $56,767 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $59,031 (Rest of U.S.) to $73,796 (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-6 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-6 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$38,791$45,409$21.76$1,740.8052 weeks
Step 2$40,084+$1,293$46,922$22.48$1,798.4052 weeks
Step 3$41,377+$1,293$48,436$23.21$1,856.8052 weeks
Step 4$42,670+$1,293$49,950$23.93$1,914.40104 weeks
Step 5$43,963+$1,293$51,463$24.66$1,972.80104 weeks
Step 6$45,256+$1,293$52,977$25.38$2,030.40104 weeks
Step 7$46,549+$1,293$54,490$26.11$2,088.80156 weeks
Step 8$47,842+$1,293$56,004$26.83$2,146.40156 weeks
Step 9$49,135+$1,293$57,517$27.56$2,204.80156 weeks
Step 10$50,428+$1,293$59,031$28.29$2,263.20Top step

GS-6 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($38,791) to step 10 ($50,428).
  • GS-7 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($50,460) is $8,571 below GS-6 step 10 ($59,031).
  • No area pays GS-6 $100,000 or more, even at step 10.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $11,358 at step 1 and $14,765 at step 10.
  • No GS-6 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $73,796 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-6 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $45,409 (Rest of U.S.) to $56,767 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $59,031 (Rest of U.S.) to $73,796 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-6 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-6 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%$56,767$73,796
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$53,512$69,565
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$52,938$68,819
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$52,368$68,078
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$51,957$67,543
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$51,871$67,432
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$51,429$66,857
State of Alaska32.36%$51,344$66,747
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$51,235$66,605
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$51,037$66,348
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$50,762$65,990
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$50,630$65,819
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$50,335$65,435
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$50,087$65,113
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$50,037$65,047
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$49,505$64,356
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$49,365$64,175
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$48,927$63,605
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$48,361$62,869
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$48,019$62,425
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$47,500$61,749
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$47,488$61,734
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$47,484$61,729
Richmond, VA22.28%$47,434$61,663
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$47,418$61,643
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$47,414$61,638
State of Hawaii22.21%$47,406$61,628
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$47,383$61,598
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$47,298$61,487
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$47,290$61,477
Laredo, TX21.59%$47,166$61,315
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$47,100$61,230
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$46,949$61,033
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$46,848$60,902
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$46,685$60,690
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$46,607$60,589
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$46,561$60,529
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$46,421$60,347
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$46,382$60,297
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$46,336$60,236
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$46,328$60,226
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$46,270$60,151
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$46,150$59,994
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$46,134$59,974
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$46,084$59,908
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$46,076$59,898
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$45,901$59,671
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$45,866$59,626
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$45,863$59,621
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$45,832$59,581
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$45,777$59,510
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$45,746$59,470
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$45,727$59,445
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$45,645$59,339
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$45,638$59,329
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$45,630$59,318
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$45,587$59,263
Rest of U.S.17.06%$45,409$59,031
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-6 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$56,767$58,659$60,551$62,443$64,335$66,228$68,120$70,012$71,904$73,796
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$53,512$55,296$57,080$58,863$60,647$62,431$64,214$65,998$67,782$69,565
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$52,938$54,703$56,467$58,232$59,996$61,761$63,525$65,290$67,055$68,819
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$52,368$54,113$55,859$57,605$59,350$61,096$62,841$64,587$66,332$68,078
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$51,957$53,689$55,420$57,152$58,884$60,616$62,348$64,080$65,811$67,543
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$51,871$53,600$55,329$57,058$58,787$60,516$62,245$63,974$65,703$67,432
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$51,429$53,143$54,858$56,572$58,286$60,000$61,715$63,429$65,143$66,857
State of Alaska$51,344$53,055$54,767$56,478$58,189$59,901$61,612$63,324$65,035$66,747
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$51,235$52,943$54,651$56,359$58,066$59,774$61,482$63,190$64,898$66,605
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$51,037$52,739$54,440$56,141$57,842$59,543$61,245$62,946$64,647$66,348
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$50,762$52,454$54,146$55,838$57,530$59,222$60,914$62,606$64,298$65,990
Denver-Aurora, CO$50,630$52,318$54,005$55,693$57,381$59,068$60,756$62,443$64,131$65,819
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$50,335$52,013$53,691$55,369$57,046$58,724$60,402$62,080$63,758$65,435
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$50,087$51,756$53,426$55,096$56,765$58,435$60,104$61,774$63,443$65,113
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$50,037$51,704$53,372$55,040$56,708$58,376$60,044$61,711$63,379$65,047
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$49,505$51,155$52,805$54,455$56,106$57,756$59,406$61,056$62,706$64,356
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$49,365$51,011$52,656$54,302$55,947$57,593$59,238$60,884$62,529$64,175
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$48,927$50,558$52,189$53,820$55,451$57,081$58,712$60,343$61,974$63,605
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$48,361$49,973$51,585$53,197$54,809$56,421$58,033$59,645$61,257$62,869
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$48,019$49,620$51,221$52,821$54,422$56,022$57,623$59,224$60,824$62,425
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$47,500$49,083$50,666$52,249$53,833$55,416$56,999$58,583$60,166$61,749
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$47,488$49,071$50,654$52,237$53,820$55,402$56,985$58,568$60,151$61,734
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$47,484$49,067$50,650$52,232$53,815$55,398$56,981$58,563$60,146$61,729
Richmond, VA$47,434$49,015$50,596$52,177$53,758$55,339$56,920$58,501$60,082$61,663
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$47,418$48,999$50,579$52,160$53,740$55,321$56,901$58,482$60,063$61,643
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$47,414$48,995$50,575$52,156$53,736$55,316$56,897$58,477$60,058$61,638
State of Hawaii$47,406$48,987$50,567$52,147$53,727$55,307$56,888$58,468$60,048$61,628
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$47,383$48,963$50,542$52,121$53,701$55,280$56,860$58,439$60,018$61,598
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$47,298$48,874$50,451$52,028$53,604$55,181$56,757$58,334$59,910$61,487
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$47,290$48,866$50,443$52,019$53,595$55,172$56,748$58,324$59,900$61,477
Laredo, TX$47,166$48,738$50,310$51,882$53,455$55,027$56,599$58,171$59,743$61,315
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$47,100$48,670$50,240$51,810$53,380$54,950$56,520$58,090$59,660$61,230
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$46,949$48,514$50,079$51,644$53,208$54,773$56,338$57,903$59,468$61,033
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$46,848$48,409$49,971$51,533$53,094$54,656$56,217$57,779$59,340$60,902
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$46,685$48,241$49,797$51,353$52,909$54,466$56,022$57,578$59,134$60,690
Colorado Springs, CO$46,607$48,161$49,714$51,268$52,822$54,375$55,929$57,482$59,036$60,589
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$46,561$48,113$49,665$51,217$52,769$54,321$55,873$57,425$58,977$60,529
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$46,421$47,969$49,516$51,063$52,611$54,158$55,705$57,253$58,800$60,347
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$46,382$47,928$49,474$51,021$52,567$54,113$55,659$57,205$58,751$60,297
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$46,336$47,880$49,425$50,969$52,514$54,058$55,603$57,147$58,692$60,236
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$46,328$47,872$49,417$50,961$52,505$54,049$55,593$57,138$58,682$60,226
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$46,270$47,812$49,354$50,897$52,439$53,981$55,524$57,066$58,608$60,151
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$46,150$47,688$49,226$50,764$52,303$53,841$55,379$56,918$58,456$59,994
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$46,134$47,672$49,210$50,747$52,285$53,823$55,361$56,898$58,436$59,974
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$46,084$47,620$49,156$50,692$52,228$53,764$55,300$56,836$58,372$59,908
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$46,076$47,612$49,148$50,683$52,219$53,755$55,291$56,827$58,363$59,898
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$45,901$47,431$48,961$50,491$52,021$53,551$55,081$56,611$58,141$59,671
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$45,866$47,395$48,924$50,453$51,982$53,511$55,040$56,568$58,097$59,626
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$45,863$47,391$48,920$50,449$51,977$53,506$55,035$56,564$58,092$59,621
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$45,832$47,359$48,887$50,415$51,942$53,470$54,998$56,525$58,053$59,581
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$45,777$47,303$48,829$50,355$51,881$53,407$54,932$56,458$57,984$59,510
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$45,746$47,271$48,796$50,321$51,846$53,370$54,895$56,420$57,945$59,470
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$45,727$47,251$48,775$50,299$51,824$53,348$54,872$56,396$57,920$59,445
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$45,645$47,167$48,688$50,210$51,731$53,253$54,774$56,296$57,817$59,339
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$45,638$47,159$48,680$50,201$51,722$53,244$54,765$56,286$57,807$59,329
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$45,630$47,151$48,672$50,193$51,714$53,235$54,756$56,277$57,798$59,318
Reno-Fernley, NV$45,587$47,107$48,626$50,146$51,665$53,185$54,704$56,224$57,743$59,263
Rest of U.S.$45,409$46,922$48,436$49,950$51,463$52,977$54,490$56,004$57,517$59,031

No GS-6 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-6 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-6 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.$21.76$1,740.80$28.29$2,263.20
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$24.90$1,992.00$32.36$2,588.80
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$25.64$2,051.20$33.33$2,666.40
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$25.37$2,029.60$32.98$2,638.40
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$24.32$1,945.60$31.62$2,529.60
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$27.20$2,176.00$35.36$2,828.80

GS-6 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $13,622 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-6 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$1,293+$1,513
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$1,293+$1,514
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$1,293+$1,514
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$1,293+$1,513
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$1,293+$1,514
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$1,293+$1,513
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$1,293+$1,514
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$1,293+$1,513
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$1,293+$1,514

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-6: GS-5 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($46,167) promoted to GS-6 lands at step 4 ($49,950), a raise of $3,783 a year.
  • Out of GS-6: GS-6 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($51,463) promoted to GS-7 lands at step 4 ($55,506), a raise of $4,043 a year.

GS-6 pay questions

How much does a GS-6 make in 2026?

GS-6 base pay is $38,791 at step 1 and $50,428 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $45,409 to $59,031. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $45,409 (Rest of U.S.) to $56,767 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $59,031 (Rest of U.S.) to $73,796 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-6 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-6 pay is $51,957 at step 1 and $67,543 at step 10, or $24.90 to $32.36 per hour.

How much does a GS-6 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-6 pay there is $56,767 at step 1 and $73,796 at step 10, or $27.20 to $35.36 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-6 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-6 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 $1,293 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $13,622 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($45,409 to $59,031).

What is the GS-6 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-6 hourly rate is $21.76 at step 1 and $28.29 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $1,740.80 to $2,263.20 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $24.90 per hour.

Will GS-6 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-6 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.