GS Pay Scale 2026 Philadelphia
Philadelphia GS employees get 28.99% locality pay in 2026 under the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD area, 11.93 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 15th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $98,630 a year ($47.26 per hour), $9,122 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 Philadelphia: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD locality pay area (28.99%). 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) | $39,316 | $40,508 | $41,700 | $42,892 | $44,084 | $45,275 | $46,467 |
| GS-4 | $40,120 | $41,457 | $42,795 | $44,133 | $45,470 | $46,808 | $48,146 | $49,483 | $50,821 | $52,158 |
| GS-5 | $44,887 | $46,384 | $47,880 | $49,376 | $50,872 | $52,369 | $53,865 | $55,361 | $56,858 | $58,354 |
| GS-6 | $50,037 | $51,704 | $53,372 | $55,040 | $56,708 | $58,376 | $60,044 | $61,711 | $63,379 | $65,047 |
| GS-7 | $55,602 | $57,456 | $59,310 | $61,163 | $63,017 | $64,870 | $66,724 | $68,578 | $70,431 | $72,285 |
| GS-8 | $61,577 | $63,629 | $65,682 | $67,734 | $69,786 | $71,838 | $73,891 | $75,943 | $77,995 | $80,047 |
| GS-9 | $68,013 | $70,280 | $72,548 | $74,815 | $77,083 | $79,351 | $81,618 | $83,886 | $86,154 | $88,421 |
| GS-10 | $74,897 | $77,393 | $79,889 | $82,385 | $84,881 | $87,377 | $89,872 | $92,368 | $94,864 | $97,360 |
| GS-11 | $82,289 | $85,033 | $87,776 | $90,520 | $93,264 | $96,007 | $98,751 | $101,494 | $104,238 | $106,982 |
| GS-12 | $98,630 | $101,918 | $105,206 | $108,493 | $111,781 | $115,069 | $118,357 | $121,645 | $124,933 | $128,221 |
| GS-13 | $117,284 | $121,194 | $125,104 | $129,013 | $132,923 | $136,833 | $140,742 | $144,652 | $148,562 | $152,471 |
| GS-14 | $138,595 | $143,215 | $147,835 | $152,456 | $157,076 | $161,697 | $166,317 | $170,938 | $175,558 | $180,178 |
| GS-15 | $163,023 | $168,457 | $173,891 | $179,326 | $184,760 | $190,194 | $195,629 | $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 Philadelphia it sets 23 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 Philadelphia
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) | $18.84 | $19.41 | $19.98 | $20.55 | $21.12 | $21.69 | $22.26 |
| GS-4 | $19.22 | $19.86 | $20.51 | $21.15 | $21.79 | $22.43 | $23.07 | $23.71 | $24.35 | $24.99 |
| GS-5 | $21.51 | $22.23 | $22.94 | $23.66 | $24.38 | $25.09 | $25.81 | $26.53 | $27.24 | $27.96 |
| GS-6 | $23.98 | $24.77 | $25.57 | $26.37 | $27.17 | $27.97 | $28.77 | $29.57 | $30.37 | $31.17 |
| GS-7 | $26.64 | $27.53 | $28.42 | $29.31 | $30.20 | $31.08 | $31.97 | $32.86 | $33.75 | $34.64 |
| GS-8 | $29.51 | $30.49 | $31.47 | $32.46 | $33.44 | $34.42 | $35.41 | $36.39 | $37.37 | $38.36 |
| GS-9 | $32.59 | $33.68 | $34.76 | $35.85 | $36.93 | $38.02 | $39.11 | $40.19 | $41.28 | $42.37 |
| GS-10 | $35.89 | $37.08 | $38.28 | $39.48 | $40.67 | $41.87 | $43.06 | $44.26 | $45.45 | $46.65 |
| GS-11 | $39.43 | $40.74 | $42.06 | $43.37 | $44.69 | $46.00 | $47.32 | $48.63 | $49.95 | $51.26 |
| GS-12 | $47.26 | $48.83 | $50.41 | $51.99 | $53.56 | $55.14 | $56.71 | $58.29 | $59.86 | $61.44 |
| GS-13 | $56.20 | $58.07 | $59.94 | $61.82 | $63.69 | $65.56 | $67.44 | $69.31 | $71.18 | $73.06 |
| GS-14 | $66.41 | $68.62 | $70.84 | $73.05 | $75.26 | $77.48 | $79.69 | $81.91 | $84.12 | $86.33 |
| GS-15 | $78.11 | $80.72 | $83.32 | $85.93 | $88.53 | $91.13 | $93.74 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Philadelphia compared with Rest of U.S.
- Philadelphia has the 15th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (28.99%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Philadelphia runs from $98,630 at step 1 to $128,221 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Philadelphia first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 8 ($101,494).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 3 rates in Philadelphia, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 23 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Philadelphia; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,131.
| Grade, step 1 | Philadelphia | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $44,887 | $40,736 | +$4,151 |
| GS-7 | $55,602 | $50,460 | +$5,142 |
| GS-9 | $68,013 | $61,722 | +$6,291 |
| GS-11 | $82,289 | $74,678 | +$7,611 |
| GS-12 | $98,630 | $89,508 | +$9,122 |
| GS-13 | $117,284 | $106,437 | +$10,847 |
| GS-14 | $138,595 | $125,776 | +$12,819 |
| GS-15 | $163,023 | $147,945 | +$15,078 |
Counties in the Philadelphia pay area
The Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD area covers the 21 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Pennsylvania: Berks County, PA; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Philadelphia County, PA; Schuylkill County, PA
New Jersey: Atlantic County, NJ; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Cape May County, NJ; Cumberland County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ
Delaware: Kent County, DE; New Castle County, DE; Sussex County, DE
Maryland: Cecil County, MD; Somerset County, MD; Wicomico County, MD; Worcester County, MD
GS pay scale pages
Philadelphia GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Philadelphia in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Philadelphia pays $98,630 a year in 2026, which is $47.26 per hour or $3,780.80 biweekly before deductions, at 28.99% locality pay. Step 10 pays $128,221. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Philadelphia pays $9,122 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Philadelphia in 2026?
Philadelphia is in OPM's Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD locality pay area, which gets 28.99% in 2026, the 15th highest of 58 areas and 11.93 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 Philadelphia in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Philadelphia runs from $55,602 at step 1 ($26.64 per hour) to $72,285 at step 10 ($34.64 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Philadelphia in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Philadelphia runs from $68,013 at step 1 ($32.59 per hour) to $88,421 at step 10 ($42.37 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Philadelphia in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Philadelphia runs from $117,284 at step 1 to $152,471 at step 10. At step 1 that is $10,847 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Philadelphia in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Philadelphia: $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 Philadelphia?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 23 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Philadelphia (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 3, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,131.
Which counties are in the Philadelphia GS locality pay area?
OPM's Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD locality pay area covers 21 counties and places in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Philadelphia 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.