GS Pay Scale 2026 Huntsville
Huntsville GS employees get 21.91% locality pay in 2026 under the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN area, 4.85 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 30th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,216 a year ($44.67 per hour), $3,708 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 Huntsville: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN locality pay area (21.91%). 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 | $37,918 | $39,182 | $40,446 | $41,710 | $42,974 | $44,239 | $45,503 | $46,767 | $48,031 | $49,296 |
| GS-5 | $42,423 | $43,838 | $45,252 | $46,666 | $48,080 | $49,494 | $50,908 | $52,323 | $53,737 | $55,151 |
| GS-6 | $47,290 | $48,866 | $50,443 | $52,019 | $53,595 | $55,172 | $56,748 | $58,324 | $59,900 | $61,477 |
| GS-7 | $52,551 | $54,302 | $56,054 | $57,806 | $59,558 | $61,310 | $63,062 | $64,813 | $66,565 | $68,317 |
| GS-8 | $58,197 | $60,137 | $62,077 | $64,016 | $65,956 | $67,895 | $69,835 | $71,775 | $73,714 | $75,654 |
| GS-9 | $64,279 | $66,423 | $68,566 | $70,709 | $72,852 | $74,995 | $77,139 | $79,282 | $81,425 | $83,568 |
| GS-10 | $70,786 | $73,145 | $75,504 | $77,863 | $80,222 | $82,581 | $84,940 | $87,299 | $89,657 | $92,016 |
| GS-11 | $77,772 | $80,366 | $82,959 | $85,552 | $88,145 | $90,738 | $93,331 | $95,924 | $98,517 | $101,110 |
| GS-12 | $93,216 | $96,324 | $99,431 | $102,539 | $105,646 | $108,753 | $111,861 | $114,968 | $118,076 | $121,183 |
| GS-13 | $110,847 | $114,542 | $118,237 | $121,932 | $125,627 | $129,322 | $133,017 | $136,712 | $140,407 | $144,102 |
| GS-14 | $130,987 | $135,354 | $139,721 | $144,088 | $148,455 | $152,821 | $157,188 | $161,555 | $165,922 | $170,289 |
| GS-15 | $154,075 | $159,211 | $164,347 | $169,483 | $174,619 | $179,755 | $184,891 | $190,027 | $195,163 | $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 Huntsville 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 Huntsville
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 | $18.77 | $19.38 | $19.99 | $20.59 | $21.20 | $21.80 | $22.41 | $23.01 | $23.62 |
| GS-5 | $20.33 | $21.01 | $21.68 | $22.36 | $23.04 | $23.72 | $24.39 | $25.07 | $25.75 | $26.43 |
| GS-6 | $22.66 | $23.41 | $24.17 | $24.93 | $25.68 | $26.44 | $27.19 | $27.95 | $28.70 | $29.46 |
| GS-7 | $25.18 | $26.02 | $26.86 | $27.70 | $28.54 | $29.38 | $30.22 | $31.06 | $31.90 | $32.73 |
| GS-8 | $27.89 | $28.82 | $29.74 | $30.67 | $31.60 | $32.53 | $33.46 | $34.39 | $35.32 | $36.25 |
| GS-9 | $30.80 | $31.83 | $32.85 | $33.88 | $34.91 | $35.93 | $36.96 | $37.99 | $39.02 | $40.04 |
| GS-10 | $33.92 | $35.05 | $36.18 | $37.31 | $38.44 | $39.57 | $40.70 | $41.83 | $42.96 | $44.09 |
| GS-11 | $37.26 | $38.51 | $39.75 | $40.99 | $42.24 | $43.48 | $44.72 | $45.96 | $47.21 | $48.45 |
| GS-12 | $44.67 | $46.15 | $47.64 | $49.13 | $50.62 | $52.11 | $53.60 | $55.09 | $56.58 | $58.07 |
| GS-13 | $53.11 | $54.88 | $56.65 | $58.42 | $60.20 | $61.97 | $63.74 | $65.51 | $67.28 | $69.05 |
| GS-14 | $62.76 | $64.86 | $66.95 | $69.04 | $71.13 | $73.23 | $75.32 | $77.41 | $79.50 | $81.60 |
| GS-15 | $73.83 | $76.29 | $78.75 | $81.21 | $83.67 | $86.13 | $88.59 | $91.05 | $93.51 | $94.49 |
Huntsville compared with Rest of U.S.
- Huntsville has the 30th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (21.91%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Huntsville runs from $93,216 at step 1 to $121,183 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Huntsville first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,110).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Huntsville, 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 Huntsville; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,532.
| Grade, step 1 | Huntsville | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,423 | $40,736 | +$1,687 |
| GS-7 | $52,551 | $50,460 | +$2,091 |
| GS-9 | $64,279 | $61,722 | +$2,557 |
| GS-11 | $77,772 | $74,678 | +$3,094 |
| GS-12 | $93,216 | $89,508 | +$3,708 |
| GS-13 | $110,847 | $106,437 | +$4,410 |
| GS-14 | $130,987 | $125,776 | +$5,211 |
| GS-15 | $154,075 | $147,945 | +$6,130 |
Counties in the Huntsville pay area
The Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN area covers the 9 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Alabama: Colbert County, AL; DeKalb County, AL; Lauderdale County, AL; Lawrence County, AL; Limestone County, AL; Madison County, AL; Marshall County, AL; Morgan County, AL
Tennessee: Lincoln County, TN
GS pay scale pages
Huntsville GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Huntsville in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Huntsville pays $93,216 a year in 2026, which is $44.67 per hour or $3,573.60 biweekly before deductions, at 21.91% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,183. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Huntsville pays $3,708 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Huntsville in 2026?
Huntsville is in OPM's Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN locality pay area, which gets 21.91% in 2026, the 30th highest of 58 areas and 4.85 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 Huntsville in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Huntsville runs from $52,551 at step 1 ($25.18 per hour) to $68,317 at step 10 ($32.73 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Huntsville in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Huntsville runs from $64,279 at step 1 ($30.80 per hour) to $83,568 at step 10 ($40.04 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Huntsville in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Huntsville runs from $110,847 at step 1 to $144,102 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,410 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Huntsville in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Huntsville: $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 Huntsville?
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 Huntsville (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 $27,532.
Which counties are in the Huntsville GS locality pay area?
OPM's Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN locality pay area covers 9 counties and places in Alabama and Tennessee. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Huntsville 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.