GS Pay Scale 2026 Milwaukee
Milwaukee GS employees get 22.42% locality pay in 2026 under the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI area, 5.36 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 22nd highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,606 a year ($44.85 per hour), $4,098 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 Milwaukee: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI locality pay area (22.42%). 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 | $38,076 | $39,346 | $40,615 | $41,885 | $43,154 | $44,424 | $45,693 | $46,963 | $48,232 | $49,502 |
| GS-5 | $42,601 | $44,021 | $45,441 | $46,861 | $48,281 | $49,701 | $51,121 | $52,541 | $53,962 | $55,382 |
| GS-6 | $47,488 | $49,071 | $50,654 | $52,237 | $53,820 | $55,402 | $56,985 | $58,568 | $60,151 | $61,734 |
| GS-7 | $52,770 | $54,530 | $56,289 | $58,048 | $59,807 | $61,566 | $63,325 | $65,085 | $66,844 | $68,603 |
| GS-8 | $58,441 | $60,389 | $62,336 | $64,284 | $66,232 | $68,179 | $70,127 | $72,075 | $74,022 | $75,970 |
| GS-9 | $64,548 | $66,701 | $68,853 | $71,005 | $73,157 | $75,309 | $77,461 | $79,613 | $81,766 | $83,918 |
| GS-10 | $71,082 | $73,451 | $75,820 | $78,188 | $80,557 | $82,926 | $85,295 | $87,664 | $90,033 | $92,401 |
| GS-11 | $78,098 | $80,702 | $83,306 | $85,909 | $88,513 | $91,117 | $93,721 | $96,325 | $98,929 | $101,533 |
| GS-12 | $93,606 | $96,726 | $99,847 | $102,967 | $106,088 | $109,208 | $112,329 | $115,449 | $118,570 | $121,690 |
| GS-13 | $111,310 | $115,021 | $118,731 | $122,442 | $126,153 | $129,863 | $133,574 | $137,284 | $140,995 | $144,705 |
| GS-14 | $131,535 | $135,920 | $140,306 | $144,691 | $149,076 | $153,461 | $157,846 | $162,231 | $166,616 | $171,001 |
| GS-15 | $154,719 | $159,877 | $165,034 | $170,192 | $175,350 | $180,507 | $185,665 | $190,822 | $195,980 | $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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee
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 | $18.24 | $18.85 | $19.46 | $20.07 | $20.68 | $21.29 | $21.89 | $22.50 | $23.11 | $23.72 |
| GS-5 | $20.41 | $21.09 | $21.77 | $22.45 | $23.13 | $23.81 | $24.49 | $25.18 | $25.86 | $26.54 |
| GS-6 | $22.75 | $23.51 | $24.27 | $25.03 | $25.79 | $26.55 | $27.30 | $28.06 | $28.82 | $29.58 |
| GS-7 | $25.29 | $26.13 | $26.97 | $27.81 | $28.66 | $29.50 | $30.34 | $31.19 | $32.03 | $32.87 |
| GS-8 | $28.00 | $28.94 | $29.87 | $30.80 | $31.74 | $32.67 | $33.60 | $34.54 | $35.47 | $36.40 |
| GS-9 | $30.93 | $31.96 | $32.99 | $34.02 | $35.05 | $36.08 | $37.12 | $38.15 | $39.18 | $40.21 |
| GS-10 | $34.06 | $35.19 | $36.33 | $37.46 | $38.60 | $39.73 | $40.87 | $42.00 | $43.14 | $44.27 |
| GS-11 | $37.42 | $38.67 | $39.92 | $41.16 | $42.41 | $43.66 | $44.91 | $46.15 | $47.40 | $48.65 |
| GS-12 | $44.85 | $46.35 | $47.84 | $49.34 | $50.83 | $52.33 | $53.82 | $55.32 | $56.81 | $58.31 |
| GS-13 | $53.33 | $55.11 | $56.89 | $58.67 | $60.45 | $62.22 | $64.00 | $65.78 | $67.56 | $69.34 |
| GS-14 | $63.03 | $65.13 | $67.23 | $69.33 | $71.43 | $73.53 | $75.63 | $77.73 | $79.84 | $81.94 |
| GS-15 | $74.13 | $76.61 | $79.08 | $81.55 | $84.02 | $86.49 | $88.96 | $91.43 | $93.91 | $94.49 |
Milwaukee compared with Rest of U.S.
- Milwaukee has the 22nd highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (22.42%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Milwaukee runs from $93,606 at step 1 to $121,690 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Milwaukee first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,533).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,647.
| Grade, step 1 | Milwaukee | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,601 | $40,736 | +$1,865 |
| GS-7 | $52,770 | $50,460 | +$2,310 |
| GS-9 | $64,548 | $61,722 | +$2,826 |
| GS-11 | $78,098 | $74,678 | +$3,420 |
| GS-12 | $93,606 | $89,508 | +$4,098 |
| GS-13 | $111,310 | $106,437 | +$4,873 |
| GS-14 | $131,535 | $125,776 | +$5,759 |
| GS-15 | $154,719 | $147,945 | +$6,774 |
Counties in the Milwaukee pay area
The Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI area covers the 10 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Wisconsin: Dodge County, WI; Fond du Lac County, WI; Jefferson County, WI; Milwaukee County, WI; Ozaukee County, WI; Racine County, WI; Sheboygan County, WI; Walworth County, WI; Washington County, WI; Waukesha County, WI
GS pay scale pages
Milwaukee GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Milwaukee in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Milwaukee pays $93,606 a year in 2026, which is $44.85 per hour or $3,588.00 biweekly before deductions, at 22.42% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,690. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Milwaukee pays $4,098 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Milwaukee in 2026?
Milwaukee is in OPM's Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI locality pay area, which gets 22.42% in 2026, the 22nd highest of 58 areas and 5.36 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 Milwaukee in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Milwaukee runs from $52,770 at step 1 ($25.29 per hour) to $68,603 at step 10 ($32.87 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Milwaukee in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Milwaukee runs from $64,548 at step 1 ($30.93 per hour) to $83,918 at step 10 ($40.21 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Milwaukee in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Milwaukee runs from $111,310 at step 1 to $144,705 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,873 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Milwaukee in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Milwaukee: $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 Milwaukee?
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 Milwaukee (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 $27,647.
Which counties are in the Milwaukee GS locality pay area?
OPM's Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI locality pay area covers 10 counties and places in Wisconsin. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Milwaukee 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.