GS Pay Scale 2026 Rest of U.S.
Rest of U.S. is the base locality pay area: every duty station outside the other 57 areas gets 17.06% on top of the General Schedule base rate in 2026. GS-12 step 1 pays $89,508 a year ($42.89 per hour), and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $192,331 (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 Rest of U.S.: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area (17.06%). 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 | $37,193† (special rate table 001M) | $38,230† (special rate table 001M) | $39,267† (special rate table 001M) | $40,304† (special rate table 001M) | $41,341† (special rate table 001M) | $42,479 | $43,693 | $44,907 | $46,120 | $47,334 |
| GS-5 | $40,736 | $42,094 | $43,452 | $44,809 | $46,167 | $47,525 | $48,883 | $50,241 | $51,599 | $52,957 |
| GS-6 | $45,409 | $46,922 | $48,436 | $49,950 | $51,463 | $52,977 | $54,490 | $56,004 | $57,517 | $59,031 |
| GS-7 | $50,460 | $52,142 | $53,824 | $55,506 | $57,188 | $58,871 | $60,553 | $62,235 | $63,917 | $65,599 |
| GS-8 | $55,882 | $57,745 | $59,607 | $61,469 | $63,332 | $65,194 | $67,057 | $68,919 | $70,781 | $72,644 |
| GS-9 | $61,722 | $63,780 | $65,838 | $67,896 | $69,954 | $72,012 | $74,070 | $76,128 | $78,186 | $80,243 |
| GS-10 | $67,970 | $70,235 | $72,500 | $74,765 | $77,030 | $79,295 | $81,560 | $83,825 | $86,091 | $88,356 |
| GS-11 | $74,678 | $77,168 | $79,658 | $82,148 | $84,638 | $87,128 | $89,618 | $92,107 | $94,597 | $97,087 |
| GS-12 | $89,508 | $92,491 | $95,475 | $98,459 | $101,443 | $104,427 | $107,411 | $110,395 | $113,378 | $116,362 |
| GS-13 | $106,437 | $109,985 | $113,533 | $117,081 | $120,629 | $124,177 | $127,725 | $131,273 | $134,822 | $138,370 |
| GS-14 | $125,776 | $129,969 | $134,162 | $138,356 | $142,549 | $146,742 | $150,935 | $155,128 | $159,321 | $163,514 |
| GS-15 | $147,945 | $152,877 | $157,809 | $162,740 | $167,672 | $172,604 | $177,536 | $182,467 | $187,399 | $192,331 |
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 Rest of U.S. it sets 35 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 Rest of U.S.
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 | $17.82† (special rate table 001M) | $18.32† (special rate table 001M) | $18.82† (special rate table 001M) | $19.31† (special rate table 001M) | $19.81† (special rate table 001M) | $20.35 | $20.94 | $21.52 | $22.10 | $22.68 |
| GS-5 | $19.52 | $20.17 | $20.82 | $21.47 | $22.12 | $22.77 | $23.42 | $24.07 | $24.72 | $25.37 |
| GS-6 | $21.76 | $22.48 | $23.21 | $23.93 | $24.66 | $25.38 | $26.11 | $26.83 | $27.56 | $28.29 |
| GS-7 | $24.18 | $24.98 | $25.79 | $26.60 | $27.40 | $28.21 | $29.01 | $29.82 | $30.63 | $31.43 |
| GS-8 | $26.78 | $27.67 | $28.56 | $29.45 | $30.35 | $31.24 | $32.13 | $33.02 | $33.92 | $34.81 |
| GS-9 | $29.57 | $30.56 | $31.55 | $32.53 | $33.52 | $34.51 | $35.49 | $36.48 | $37.46 | $38.45 |
| GS-10 | $32.57 | $33.65 | $34.74 | $35.82 | $36.91 | $37.99 | $39.08 | $40.17 | $41.25 | $42.34 |
| GS-11 | $35.78 | $36.98 | $38.17 | $39.36 | $40.55 | $41.75 | $42.94 | $44.13 | $45.33 | $46.52 |
| GS-12 | $42.89 | $44.32 | $45.75 | $47.18 | $48.61 | $50.04 | $51.47 | $52.90 | $54.33 | $55.76 |
| GS-13 | $51.00 | $52.70 | $54.40 | $56.10 | $57.80 | $59.50 | $61.20 | $62.90 | $64.60 | $66.30 |
| GS-14 | $60.27 | $62.28 | $64.28 | $66.29 | $68.30 | $70.31 | $72.32 | $74.33 | $76.34 | $78.35 |
| GS-15 | $70.89 | $73.25 | $75.62 | $77.98 | $80.34 | $82.70 | $85.07 | $87.43 | $89.79 | $92.16 |
Highest-paying areas and Rest of U.S.
- Rest of U.S. has the lowest locality percentage of the 58 areas (17.06%), so it is the floor for GS pay in 2026.
- GS-12 pay in Rest of U.S. runs from $89,508 at step 1 to $116,362 at step 10. The highest-paying area, San Francisco, pays $111,896 at step 1.
- The highest locality percentages in 2026 are San Francisco (46.34%), New York (37.95%), Los Angeles (36.47%), Houston (35.00%), Washington DC (33.94%).
- Rest of U.S. first reaches $100,000 at GS-12 step 5 ($101,443).
- No rate in Rest of U.S. reaches the $197,200 cap; GS-15 runs from $147,945 to $192,331.
- Special rate table 001M sets 35 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Rest of U.S.; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,437.
| Area | Locality % | GS-12 step 1 | Above Rest of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | 46.34% | $111,896 | +$22,388 |
| New York | 37.95% | $105,481 | +$15,973 |
| Los Angeles | 36.47% | $104,349 | +$14,841 |
| Houston | 35.00% | $103,225 | +$13,717 |
| Washington DC | 33.94% | $102,415 | +$12,907 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $89,508 |
What Rest of U.S. covers
OPM defines Rest of U.S. as all duty stations in the United States and its territories and possessions (nonforeign areas) that are not in another locality pay area. It has no county list; check the OPM 2026 locality pay area definitions to see whether your duty station falls in one of the other 57 areas.
GS pay scale pages
Rest of U.S. GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 a year in 2026, which is $42.89 per hour or $3,431.20 biweekly before deductions, at 17.06% locality pay. Step 10 pays $116,362. That is the lowest GS-12 step 1 rate of the 58 areas; San Francisco pays $111,896.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Rest of U.S. in 2026?
Rest of U.S. covers every duty station outside the other 57 locality pay areas. It gets 17.06% in 2026, the lowest of the 58 areas; the highest are San Francisco (46.34%), New York (37.95%), Los Angeles (36.47%), Houston (35.00%), Washington DC (33.94%). Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
How much does a GS-7 make in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Rest of U.S. runs from $50,460 at step 1 ($24.18 per hour) to $65,599 at step 10 ($31.43 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Rest of U.S. runs from $61,722 at step 1 ($29.57 per hour) to $80,243 at step 10 ($38.45 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Rest of U.S. runs from $106,437 at step 1 to $138,370 at step 10. At step 1 the highest-paying area, San Francisco, pays $26,623 more.
What is the highest GS pay in Rest of U.S. in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Rest of U.S.: $192,331 a year ($92.16 per hour). The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Rest of U.S.?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 35 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Rest of U.S. (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 10, GS-4: 5). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,437.
Which counties are in the Rest of U.S. GS locality pay area?
Rest of U.S. is every duty station in the United States and its territories and possessions (nonforeign areas) that is not in one of the other 57 locality pay areas. OPM does not list counties for it.
Will Rest of U.S. 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.