GS Step Increase Calculator

What you need to earn a step

A within-grade increase is earned when three requirements are met: acceptable performance, the waiting period and no equivalent increase during it. It applies to permanent positions, for employees paid below the top of their grade (5 CFR 531.402).

“the employee's most recent rating of record (as defined in § 430.203 of this chapter) shall be at least Level 3” (5 CFR 531.404(a))

“The employee must not have received an equivalent increase during the waiting period.” (5 CFR 531.404(c))

“WGIs apply only to GS employees occupying permanent positions.” (OPM fact sheet, Within-Grade Increases)

When it takes effect

“a within-grade increase shall be effective on the first day of the first pay period following completion of the required waiting period and in compliance with the conditions of eligibility.” (5 CFR 531.412(a))

“shall be advanced in pay successively to the next higher rate within the grade at the beginning of the next pay period following the completion of” (5 U.S.C. 5335(a))

The calculator counts the waiting period from the date you enter, finds the first day after it is complete (the earliest due date) and moves to the first pay period that starts on or after that day, using the same pay period calendars as the 2026 and 2027 pay period calendar pages. Published pay period dates on this site run from December 28, 2025 through January 8, 2028 (the 2026 and 2027 pay period calendars). Dates outside that range are estimates that continue the 14-day pay period cycle, and are marked with an asterisk. If acceptable performance is reached after a negative determination, the increase takes effect on the first day of the first pay period after the acceptable determination (5 CFR 531.412(b)).

Creditable service

“Civilian employment in any branch of the Federal Government (executive, legislative, or judicial) or with a Government corporation as defined in section 103 of title 5, United States Code, is creditable service in the computation of a waiting period.” (5 CFR 531.406(a))

“Service credit is given during this employment for periods of annual, sick, and other leave with pay; advanced annual and sick leave; service under a temporary or term appointment; and service under an interim appointment made under § 772.102 of this chapter.” (5 CFR 531.406(a))

Military service is creditable for one waiting period when you are reemployed on time (5 CFR 531.406(b)(1)), and a few absences count in full toward every later step as well (5 CFR 531.406(c)):

“A leave of absence from a position in which an employee is covered by this subpart, whether the employee is on leave without pay or is considered to be on furlough, is creditable service in the computation of waiting periods for successive within-grade increases when:” (5 CFR 531.406(c)(1))

The listed cases are military service with a restoration right, injury compensation, service creditable under 5 U.S.C. 8332(b)(5) or (7), temporary employment by another agency in a covered position, and assignment to a State or local government or institution of higher education. Enter only non-creditable time in the calculator.

Leave without pay and other non-pay time

“Two workweeks in the waiting period for an employee whose rate of basic pay is less than the rate of basic pay for step 4 of the applicable grade” (5 CFR 531.406(b)(2)(i))

“Four workweeks in the waiting period for an employee whose rate of basic pay is equal to or greater than the rate of basic pay for step 4 of the applicable grade and less than the rate of basic pay for step 7 of the applicable grade” (5 CFR 531.406(b)(2)(ii))

“Six workweeks in the waiting period for an employee whose rate of basic pay is equal to or greater than the rate of basic pay for step 7 of the applicable grade” (5 CFR 531.406(b)(2)(iii))

“time in a nonpay status (based upon the tour of duty from which the time was charged) that is in excess of the allowable amount shall extend a waiting period by the excess amount.” (5 CFR 531.406(b)(3))

“After a period of nonpay status or a break in service (alone or in combination) in excess of 52 calendar weeks, unless the nonpay status or break in service is creditable service under § 531.406 of this subpart.” (5 CFR 531.405(b)(3))

The calculator adds each excess workweek as one week to the waiting period and takes the total non-pay time in the waiting period. A single stretch of non-pay time or break in service of more than 52 calendar weeks starts a new waiting period instead, which the calculator cannot see from a total, so split it out yourself.

Promotions and equivalent increases

Each waiting period starts on the first appointment or when you receive an equivalent increase (5 CFR 531.405(b)). For GS employees the equivalent increases include:

“A promotion (permanent or temporary) to a higher grade, including the promotion of an employee receiving a retained rate under 5 CFR 359.705 or 5 CFR part 536 that does not result in a pay increase, but excluding” (5 CFR 531.407(a)(2))

“A temporary promotion if, at the end of the that temporary promotion, the employee is returned to the grade from which promoted” (5 CFR 531.407(a)(2)(i))

“A promotion to a higher-graded supervisory or managerial position when the employee does not satisfactorily complete a probationary period established under 5 U.S.C. 3321(a)(2) and is returned to a position at the lower grade held before promotion” (5 CFR 531.407(a)(2)(ii))

A within-grade increase is itself an equivalent increase, so the next wait starts when it takes effect. Raises from locality pay or special rate changes are not counted (5 CFR 531.407(c)), and neither is an increase granted by statute (5 U.S.C. 5335(d)). To see how pay is set on a promotion, use the GS pay calculator.

Quality step increases

“A quality step increase shall not be required but may be granted only to” (5 CFR 531.504)

That is an employee with a rating of record at Level 5 (“Outstanding” or equivalent), or the highest level a program uses (5 CFR 531.504).

“a quality step increase may not be granted to an employee who has received a quality step increase within the preceding 52 consecutive calendar weeks.” (5 CFR 531.505)

“A within-grade increase, excluding a quality step increase granted under subpart E of this part” (5 CFR 531.407(a)(1))

The last quote is from the list of equivalent increases in 5 CFR 531.407(a)(1): a quality step increase is excluded from it, so by that rule it does not start a new waiting period. The calculator does not model quality step increases.