GS Pay Scale 2026 Tucson
Tucson GS employees get 19.28% locality pay in 2026 under the Tucson-Nogales, AZ area, 2.22 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 42nd highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $91,205 a year ($43.70 per hour), $1,697 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $195,978 (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 Tucson: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Tucson-Nogales, AZ locality pay area (19.28%). 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) | $38,337 | $39,574 | $40,810 | $42,047 | $43,284 | $44,521 | $45,758 | $46,995 | $48,232 |
| GS-5 | $41,508 | $42,892 | $44,276 | $45,659 | $47,043 | $48,426 | $49,810 | $51,194 | $52,577 | $53,961 |
| GS-6 | $46,270 | $47,812 | $49,354 | $50,897 | $52,439 | $53,981 | $55,524 | $57,066 | $58,608 | $60,151 |
| GS-7 | $51,417 | $53,131 | $54,845 | $56,559 | $58,273 | $59,987 | $61,701 | $63,415 | $65,129 | $66,843 |
| GS-8 | $56,942 | $58,840 | $60,737 | $62,635 | $64,533 | $66,431 | $68,328 | $70,226 | $72,124 | $74,022 |
| GS-9 | $62,893 | $64,990 | $67,087 | $69,184 | $71,281 | $73,377 | $75,474 | $77,571 | $79,668 | $81,765 |
| GS-10 | $69,259 | $71,567 | $73,875 | $76,183 | $78,491 | $80,799 | $83,107 | $85,415 | $87,723 | $90,031 |
| GS-11 | $76,095 | $78,632 | $81,169 | $83,706 | $86,243 | $88,780 | $91,317 | $93,854 | $96,391 | $98,928 |
| GS-12 | $91,205 | $94,246 | $97,286 | $100,326 | $103,367 | $106,407 | $109,448 | $112,488 | $115,529 | $118,569 |
| GS-13 | $108,455 | $112,071 | $115,686 | $119,301 | $122,917 | $126,532 | $130,148 | $133,763 | $137,378 | $140,994 |
| GS-14 | $128,162 | $132,434 | $136,707 | $140,979 | $145,252 | $149,525 | $153,797 | $158,070 | $162,342 | $166,615 |
| GS-15 | $150,751 | $155,776 | $160,801 | $165,827 | $170,852 | $175,877 | $180,902 | $185,928 | $190,953 | $195,978 |
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 Tucson it sets 31 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 Tucson
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) | $18.37 | $18.96 | $19.55 | $20.15 | $20.74 | $21.33 | $21.93 | $22.52 | $23.11 |
| GS-5 | $19.89 | $20.55 | $21.22 | $21.88 | $22.54 | $23.20 | $23.87 | $24.53 | $25.19 | $25.86 |
| GS-6 | $22.17 | $22.91 | $23.65 | $24.39 | $25.13 | $25.87 | $26.60 | $27.34 | $28.08 | $28.82 |
| GS-7 | $24.64 | $25.46 | $26.28 | $27.10 | $27.92 | $28.74 | $29.56 | $30.39 | $31.21 | $32.03 |
| GS-8 | $27.28 | $28.19 | $29.10 | $30.01 | $30.92 | $31.83 | $32.74 | $33.65 | $34.56 | $35.47 |
| GS-9 | $30.14 | $31.14 | $32.15 | $33.15 | $34.15 | $35.16 | $36.16 | $37.17 | $38.17 | $39.18 |
| GS-10 | $33.19 | $34.29 | $35.40 | $36.50 | $37.61 | $38.72 | $39.82 | $40.93 | $42.03 | $43.14 |
| GS-11 | $36.46 | $37.68 | $38.89 | $40.11 | $41.32 | $42.54 | $43.76 | $44.97 | $46.19 | $47.40 |
| GS-12 | $43.70 | $45.16 | $46.62 | $48.07 | $49.53 | $50.99 | $52.44 | $53.90 | $55.36 | $56.81 |
| GS-13 | $51.97 | $53.70 | $55.43 | $57.16 | $58.90 | $60.63 | $62.36 | $64.09 | $65.83 | $67.56 |
| GS-14 | $61.41 | $63.46 | $65.50 | $67.55 | $69.60 | $71.65 | $73.69 | $75.74 | $77.79 | $79.83 |
| GS-15 | $72.23 | $74.64 | $77.05 | $79.46 | $81.86 | $84.27 | $86.68 | $89.09 | $91.50 | $93.90 |
Tucson compared with Rest of U.S.
- Tucson has the 42nd highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (19.28%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Tucson runs from $91,205 at step 1 to $118,569 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Tucson first reaches $100,000 at GS-12 step 4 ($100,326).
- No rate in Tucson reaches the $197,200 cap; GS-15 runs from $150,751 to $195,978.
- Special rate table 001M sets 31 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Tucson; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,938.
| Grade, step 1 | Tucson | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $41,508 | $40,736 | +$772 |
| GS-7 | $51,417 | $50,460 | +$957 |
| GS-9 | $62,893 | $61,722 | +$1,171 |
| GS-11 | $76,095 | $74,678 | +$1,417 |
| GS-12 | $91,205 | $89,508 | +$1,697 |
| GS-13 | $108,455 | $106,437 | +$2,018 |
| GS-14 | $128,162 | $125,776 | +$2,386 |
| GS-15 | $150,751 | $147,945 | +$2,806 |
Counties in the Tucson pay area
The Tucson-Nogales, AZ area covers the 3 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Arizona: Cochise County, AZ; Pima County, AZ; Santa Cruz County, AZ
GS pay scale pages
Tucson GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Tucson in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Tucson pays $91,205 a year in 2026, which is $43.70 per hour or $3,496.00 biweekly before deductions, at 19.28% locality pay. Step 10 pays $118,569. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Tucson pays $1,697 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Tucson in 2026?
Tucson is in OPM's Tucson-Nogales, AZ locality pay area, which gets 19.28% in 2026, the 42nd highest of 58 areas and 2.22 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 Tucson in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Tucson runs from $51,417 at step 1 ($24.64 per hour) to $66,843 at step 10 ($32.03 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Tucson in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Tucson runs from $62,893 at step 1 ($30.14 per hour) to $81,765 at step 10 ($39.18 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Tucson in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Tucson runs from $108,455 at step 1 to $140,994 at step 10. At step 1 that is $2,018 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Tucson in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Tucson: $195,978 a year ($93.90 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 Tucson?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 31 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Tucson (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 10, GS-4: 1). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $26,938.
Which counties are in the Tucson GS locality pay area?
OPM's Tucson-Nogales, AZ locality pay area covers 3 counties and places in Arizona. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Tucson 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.