GS Pay Scale 2026 Raleigh
Raleigh GS employees get 22.24% locality pay in 2026 under the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC area, 5.18 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 25th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $93,468 a year ($44.79 per hour), $3,960 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 Raleigh: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC locality pay area (22.24%). 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 | $38,020 | $39,288 | $40,556 | $41,823 | $43,091 | $44,358 | $45,626 | $46,894 | $48,161 | $49,429 |
| GS-5 | $42,538 | $43,956 | $45,374 | $46,792 | $48,210 | $49,628 | $51,046 | $52,464 | $53,882 | $55,300 |
| GS-6 | $47,418 | $48,999 | $50,579 | $52,160 | $53,740 | $55,321 | $56,901 | $58,482 | $60,063 | $61,643 |
| GS-7 | $52,693 | $54,449 | $56,206 | $57,963 | $59,719 | $61,476 | $63,232 | $64,989 | $66,745 | $68,502 |
| GS-8 | $58,355 | $60,300 | $62,245 | $64,189 | $66,134 | $68,079 | $70,024 | $71,969 | $73,914 | $75,858 |
| GS-9 | $64,453 | $66,602 | $68,751 | $70,900 | $73,049 | $75,198 | $77,347 | $79,496 | $81,645 | $83,794 |
| GS-10 | $70,977 | $73,343 | $75,708 | $78,073 | $80,439 | $82,804 | $85,169 | $87,535 | $89,900 | $92,266 |
| GS-11 | $77,983 | $80,583 | $83,183 | $85,783 | $88,383 | $90,983 | $93,583 | $96,183 | $98,783 | $101,383 |
| GS-12 | $93,468 | $96,584 | $99,700 | $102,816 | $105,932 | $109,048 | $112,164 | $115,280 | $118,396 | $121,511 |
| GS-13 | $111,147 | $114,852 | $118,557 | $122,262 | $125,967 | $129,672 | $133,377 | $137,082 | $140,787 | $144,493 |
| GS-14 | $131,342 | $135,721 | $140,099 | $144,478 | $148,857 | $153,235 | $157,614 | $161,992 | $166,371 | $170,750 |
| GS-15 | $154,492 | $159,642 | $164,792 | $169,942 | $175,092 | $180,242 | $185,392 | $190,542 | $195,692 | $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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh
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 | $18.22 | $18.83 | $19.43 | $20.04 | $20.65 | $21.25 | $21.86 | $22.47 | $23.08 | $23.68 |
| GS-5 | $20.38 | $21.06 | $21.74 | $22.42 | $23.10 | $23.78 | $24.46 | $25.14 | $25.82 | $26.50 |
| GS-6 | $22.72 | $23.48 | $24.24 | $24.99 | $25.75 | $26.51 | $27.26 | $28.02 | $28.78 | $29.54 |
| GS-7 | $25.25 | $26.09 | $26.93 | $27.77 | $28.61 | $29.46 | $30.30 | $31.14 | $31.98 | $32.82 |
| GS-8 | $27.96 | $28.89 | $29.83 | $30.76 | $31.69 | $32.62 | $33.55 | $34.48 | $35.42 | $36.35 |
| GS-9 | $30.88 | $31.91 | $32.94 | $33.97 | $35.00 | $36.03 | $37.06 | $38.09 | $39.12 | $40.15 |
| GS-10 | $34.01 | $35.14 | $36.28 | $37.41 | $38.54 | $39.68 | $40.81 | $41.94 | $43.08 | $44.21 |
| GS-11 | $37.37 | $38.61 | $39.86 | $41.10 | $42.35 | $43.60 | $44.84 | $46.09 | $47.33 | $48.58 |
| GS-12 | $44.79 | $46.28 | $47.77 | $49.26 | $50.76 | $52.25 | $53.74 | $55.24 | $56.73 | $58.22 |
| GS-13 | $53.26 | $55.03 | $56.81 | $58.58 | $60.36 | $62.13 | $63.91 | $65.68 | $67.46 | $69.23 |
| GS-14 | $62.93 | $65.03 | $67.13 | $69.23 | $71.33 | $73.42 | $75.52 | $77.62 | $79.72 | $81.82 |
| GS-15 | $74.03 | $76.49 | $78.96 | $81.43 | $83.90 | $86.36 | $88.83 | $91.30 | $93.77 | $94.49 |
Raleigh compared with Rest of U.S.
- Raleigh has the 25th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (22.24%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Raleigh runs from $93,468 at step 1 to $121,511 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Raleigh first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 10 ($101,383).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 1 rate in Raleigh, 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 Raleigh; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,607.
| Grade, step 1 | Raleigh | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $42,538 | $40,736 | +$1,802 |
| GS-7 | $52,693 | $50,460 | +$2,233 |
| GS-9 | $64,453 | $61,722 | +$2,731 |
| GS-11 | $77,983 | $74,678 | +$3,305 |
| GS-12 | $93,468 | $89,508 | +$3,960 |
| GS-13 | $111,147 | $106,437 | +$4,710 |
| GS-14 | $131,342 | $125,776 | +$5,566 |
| GS-15 | $154,492 | $147,945 | +$6,547 |
Counties in the Raleigh pay area
The Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC area covers the 24 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
North Carolina: Caswell County, NC; Chatham County, NC; Cumberland County, NC; Durham County, NC; Edgecombe County, NC; Franklin County, NC; Granville County, NC; Halifax County, NC; Harnett County, NC; Hoke County, NC; Johnston County, NC; Lee County, NC; Moore County, NC; Nash County, NC; Northampton County, NC; Orange County, NC; Person County, NC; Robeson County, NC; Scotland County, NC; Vance County, NC; Wake County, NC; Warren County, NC; Wayne County, NC; Wilson County, NC
GS pay scale pages
Raleigh GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Raleigh in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Raleigh pays $93,468 a year in 2026, which is $44.79 per hour or $3,583.20 biweekly before deductions, at 22.24% locality pay. Step 10 pays $121,511. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Raleigh pays $3,960 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Raleigh in 2026?
Raleigh is in OPM's Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC locality pay area, which gets 22.24% in 2026, the 25th highest of 58 areas and 5.18 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 Raleigh in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Raleigh runs from $52,693 at step 1 ($25.25 per hour) to $68,502 at step 10 ($32.82 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Raleigh in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Raleigh runs from $64,453 at step 1 ($30.88 per hour) to $83,794 at step 10 ($40.15 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Raleigh in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Raleigh runs from $111,147 at step 1 to $144,493 at step 10. At step 1 that is $4,710 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Raleigh in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Raleigh: $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 Raleigh?
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 Raleigh (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 $27,607.
Which counties are in the Raleigh GS locality pay area?
OPM's Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC locality pay area covers 24 counties and places in North Carolina. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Raleigh 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.