GS Pay Scale 2026 Seattle
Seattle GS employees get 31.57% locality pay in 2026 under the Seattle-Tacoma, WA area, 14.51 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 10th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $100,602 a year ($48.20 per hour), $11,094 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 Seattle: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Seattle-Tacoma, WA locality pay area (31.57%). 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) | $37,671 | $38,887 | $40,103 | $41,318 | $42,534 | $43,750 | $44,965 | $46,181 | $47,397 |
| GS-4 | $40,922 | $42,287 | $43,651 | $45,015 | $46,380 | $47,744 | $49,109 | $50,473 | $51,837 | $53,202 |
| GS-5 | $45,785 | $47,311 | $48,837 | $50,364 | $51,890 | $53,416 | $54,942 | $56,469 | $57,995 | $59,521 |
| GS-6 | $51,037 | $52,739 | $54,440 | $56,141 | $57,842 | $59,543 | $61,245 | $62,946 | $64,647 | $66,348 |
| GS-7 | $56,715 | $58,605 | $60,496 | $62,387 | $64,277 | $66,168 | $68,059 | $69,949 | $71,840 | $73,731 |
| GS-8 | $62,809 | $64,902 | $66,995 | $69,089 | $71,182 | $73,275 | $75,369 | $77,462 | $79,555 | $81,648 |
| GS-9 | $69,373 | $71,686 | $73,999 | $76,312 | $78,625 | $80,938 | $83,251 | $85,564 | $87,877 | $90,190 |
| GS-10 | $76,395 | $78,941 | $81,487 | $84,032 | $86,578 | $89,124 | $91,670 | $94,216 | $96,762 | $99,308 |
| GS-11 | $83,935 | $86,734 | $89,532 | $92,331 | $95,129 | $97,928 | $100,726 | $103,525 | $106,323 | $109,122 |
| GS-12 | $100,602 | $103,956 | $107,310 | $110,664 | $114,017 | $117,371 | $120,725 | $124,078 | $127,432 | $130,786 |
| GS-13 | $119,630 | $123,618 | $127,606 | $131,594 | $135,582 | $139,569 | $143,557 | $147,545 | $151,533 | $155,521 |
| GS-14 | $141,367 | $146,080 | $150,792 | $155,505 | $160,218 | $164,931 | $169,644 | $174,357 | $179,069 | $183,782 |
| GS-15 | $166,283 | $171,826 | $177,370 | $182,913 | $188,456 | $193,999 | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $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 Seattle it sets 21 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 Seattle
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) | $18.05 | $18.63 | $19.22 | $19.80 | $20.38 | $20.96 | $21.55 | $22.13 | $22.71 |
| GS-4 | $19.61 | $20.26 | $20.92 | $21.57 | $22.22 | $22.88 | $23.53 | $24.18 | $24.84 | $25.49 |
| GS-5 | $21.94 | $22.67 | $23.40 | $24.13 | $24.86 | $25.59 | $26.33 | $27.06 | $27.79 | $28.52 |
| GS-6 | $24.45 | $25.27 | $26.09 | $26.90 | $27.72 | $28.53 | $29.35 | $30.16 | $30.98 | $31.79 |
| GS-7 | $27.18 | $28.08 | $28.99 | $29.89 | $30.80 | $31.70 | $32.61 | $33.52 | $34.42 | $35.33 |
| GS-8 | $30.10 | $31.10 | $32.10 | $33.10 | $34.11 | $35.11 | $36.11 | $37.12 | $38.12 | $39.12 |
| GS-9 | $33.24 | $34.35 | $35.46 | $36.57 | $37.67 | $38.78 | $39.89 | $41.00 | $42.11 | $43.22 |
| GS-10 | $36.61 | $37.83 | $39.05 | $40.26 | $41.48 | $42.70 | $43.92 | $45.14 | $46.36 | $47.58 |
| GS-11 | $40.22 | $41.56 | $42.90 | $44.24 | $45.58 | $46.92 | $48.26 | $49.60 | $50.95 | $52.29 |
| GS-12 | $48.20 | $49.81 | $51.42 | $53.03 | $54.63 | $56.24 | $57.85 | $59.45 | $61.06 | $62.67 |
| GS-13 | $57.32 | $59.23 | $61.14 | $63.05 | $64.97 | $66.88 | $68.79 | $70.70 | $72.61 | $74.52 |
| GS-14 | $67.74 | $70.00 | $72.25 | $74.51 | $76.77 | $79.03 | $81.29 | $83.54 | $85.80 | $88.06 |
| GS-15 | $79.68 | $82.33 | $84.99 | $87.64 | $90.30 | $92.96 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Seattle compared with Rest of U.S.
- Seattle has the 10th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (31.57%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Seattle runs from $100,602 at step 1 to $130,786 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Seattle first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 7 ($100,726).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 4 rates in Seattle, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 21 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Seattle; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,714.
| Grade, step 1 | Seattle | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $45,785 | $40,736 | +$5,049 |
| GS-7 | $56,715 | $50,460 | +$6,255 |
| GS-9 | $69,373 | $61,722 | +$7,651 |
| GS-11 | $83,935 | $74,678 | +$9,257 |
| GS-12 | $100,602 | $89,508 | +$11,094 |
| GS-13 | $119,630 | $106,437 | +$13,193 |
| GS-14 | $141,367 | $125,776 | +$15,591 |
| GS-15 | $166,283 | $147,945 | +$18,338 |
Counties in the Seattle pay area
The Seattle-Tacoma, WA area covers the 15 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Washington: Clallam County, WA; Grays Harbor County, WA; Island County, WA; Jefferson County, WA; King County, WA; Kitsap County, WA; Lewis County, WA; Mason County, WA; Pacific County, WA; Pierce County, WA; San Juan County, WA; Skagit County, WA; Snohomish County, WA; Thurston County, WA; Whatcom County, WA
GS pay scale pages
Seattle GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Seattle in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Seattle pays $100,602 a year in 2026, which is $48.20 per hour or $3,856.00 biweekly before deductions, at 31.57% locality pay. Step 10 pays $130,786. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Seattle pays $11,094 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Seattle in 2026?
Seattle is in OPM's Seattle-Tacoma, WA locality pay area, which gets 31.57% in 2026, the 10th highest of 58 areas and 14.51 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 Seattle in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Seattle runs from $56,715 at step 1 ($27.18 per hour) to $73,731 at step 10 ($35.33 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Seattle in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Seattle runs from $69,373 at step 1 ($33.24 per hour) to $90,190 at step 10 ($43.22 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Seattle in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Seattle runs from $119,630 at step 1 to $155,521 at step 10. At step 1 that is $13,193 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Seattle in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Seattle: $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 Seattle?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 21 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Seattle (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 1, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $29,714.
Which counties are in the Seattle GS locality pay area?
OPM's Seattle-Tacoma, WA locality pay area covers 15 counties and places in Washington. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Seattle 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.