Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 002)
In the Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, Alabama wage area, a WG-10 earns $29.01 at step 1, $30.21 at step 2 and $33.88 at step 5 under schedule 202 (Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL), effective March 22, 2026. Step 2 is about $63,048 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 202 is the one that covers this wage area's survey area (5 CFR 532, Appendix C). One other schedule covers other GS locality pay areas inside the wage area; it is listed below.
Below are the WG, WL and WS hourly rates for every grade and step and the counties covered. See WG pay scale 2026 for every wage area.
Maintained by Archie Chang · DCPAS schedules checked October 31, 2026 · Methodology & sources
Schedule 202: Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL)
Issued March 17, 2026, effective March 22, 2026, superseding the schedule issued November 25, 2025. GS locality: Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (BH). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Birmingham AL GS pay scale 2026.
WG: nonsupervisory grades 1 to 15
| WG (nonsupervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG-1 | $12.86$26,839 | $13.42$28,008 | $13.95$29,114 | $14.46$30,178 | $15.02$31,347 |
| WG-2 | $14.65$30,575 | $15.25$31,827 | $15.85$33,079 | $16.46$34,352 | $17.05$35,583 |
| WG-3 | $16.39$34,206 | $17.05$35,583 | $17.78$37,107 | $18.43$38,463 | $19.13$39,924 |
| WG-4 | $18.16$37,900 | $18.91$39,465 | $19.64$40,989 | $20.45$42,679 | $21.17$44,182 |
| WG-5 | $19.99$41,719 | $20.81$43,430 | $21.68$45,246 | $22.52$46,999 | $23.35$48,731 |
| WG-6 | $21.83$45,559 | $22.71$47,396 | $23.61$49,274 | $24.52$51,173 | $25.44$53,093 |
| WG-7 | $23.61$49,274 | $24.60$51,340 | $25.59$53,406 | $26.54$55,389 | $27.56$57,518 |
| WG-8 | $25.42$53,052 | $26.47$55,243 | $27.56$57,518 | $28.60$59,688 | $29.67$61,921 |
| WG-9 | $27.18$56,725 | $28.32$59,104 | $29.43$61,420 | $30.57$63,800 | $31.70$66,158 |
| WG-10 | $29.01$60,544 | $30.21$63,048 | $31.43$65,594 | $32.64$68,120 | $33.88$70,708 |
| WG-11 | $30.87$64,426 | $32.14$67,076 | $33.45$69,810 | $34.73$72,482 | $36.02$75,174 |
| WG-12 | $32.73$68,308 | $34.08$71,125 | $35.45$73,984 | $36.81$76,822 | $38.18$79,682 |
| WG-13 | $34.56$72,127 | $36.02$75,174 | $37.43$78,116 | $38.89$81,163 | $40.34$84,190 |
| WG-14 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.96$79,223 | $39.47$82,374 | $40.98$85,525 | $42.52$88,739 |
| WG-15 | $38.28$79,890 | $39.87$83,209 | $41.48$86,569 | $43.06$89,866 | $44.66$93,205 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $14.19$29,615 | $14.77$30,825 | $15.34$32,015 | $15.92$33,225 | $16.56$34,561 |
| WL-2 | $16.08$33,559 | $16.78$35,020 | $17.45$36,418 | $18.15$37,879 | $18.80$39,236 |
| WL-3 | $18.01$37,587 | $18.79$39,215 | $19.55$40,801 | $20.31$42,387 | $21.02$43,869 |
| WL-4 | $19.95$41,636 | $20.78$43,368 | $21.63$45,142 | $22.45$46,853 | $23.32$48,669 |
| WL-5 | $21.99$45,893 | $22.92$47,834 | $23.84$49,754 | $24.78$51,716 | $25.68$53,594 |
| WL-6 | $23.99$50,067 | $24.96$52,092 | $26.00$54,262 | $26.96$56,266 | $27.96$58,353 |
| WL-7 | $26.01$54,283 | $27.07$56,495 | $28.14$58,728 | $29.22$60,982 | $30.29$63,215 |
| WL-8 | $27.98$58,394 | $29.13$60,794 | $30.26$63,153 | $31.43$65,594 | $32.60$68,036 |
| WL-9 | $29.95$62,506 | $31.19$65,094 | $32.44$67,702 | $33.63$70,186 | $34.91$72,857 |
| WL-10 | $31.92$66,617 | $33.25$69,393 | $34.57$72,148 | $35.93$74,986 | $37.22$77,678 |
| WL-11 | $33.96$70,875 | $35.38$73,838 | $36.79$76,781 | $38.19$79,703 | $39.62$82,687 |
| WL-12 | $36.00$75,132 | $37.48$78,221 | $39.00$81,393 | $40.51$84,544 | $41.99$87,633 |
| WL-13 | $38.04$79,389 | $39.62$82,687 | $41.18$85,943 | $42.80$89,324 | $44.38$92,621 |
| WL-14 | $40.06$83,605 | $41.75$87,132 | $43.40$90,576 | $45.09$94,103 | $46.78$97,630 |
| WL-15 | $42.10$87,863 | $43.84$91,494 | $45.64$95,251 | $47.38$98,882 | $49.13$102,534 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $21.49$44,850 | $22.37$46,686 | $23.27$48,564 | $24.15$50,401 | $25.05$52,279 |
| WS-2 | $23.21$48,439 | $24.21$50,526 | $25.16$52,509 | $26.12$54,512 | $27.11$56,579 |
| WS-3 | $25.07$52,321 | $26.11$54,492 | $27.18$56,725 | $28.19$58,833 | $29.23$61,003 |
| WS-4 | $26.90$56,140 | $28.05$58,540 | $29.14$60,815 | $30.28$63,194 | $31.39$65,511 |
| WS-5 | $28.70$59,897 | $29.92$62,443 | $31.11$64,927 | $32.32$67,452 | $33.50$69,915 |
| WS-6 | $30.53$63,716 | $31.80$66,367 | $33.09$69,059 | $34.34$71,668 | $35.62$74,339 |
| WS-7 | $32.30$67,410 | $33.65$70,228 | $35.01$73,066 | $36.34$75,842 | $37.68$78,638 |
| WS-8 | $34.09$71,146 | $35.52$74,130 | $36.93$77,073 | $38.36$80,057 | $39.77$83,000 |
| WS-9 | $35.91$74,944 | $37.35$77,949 | $38.86$81,101 | $40.36$84,231 | $41.88$87,404 |
| WS-10 | $37.75$78,784 | $39.29$81,998 | $40.87$85,296 | $42.46$88,614 | $44.02$91,870 |
| WS-11 | $38.70$80,767 | $40.29$84,085 | $41.91$87,466 | $43.54$90,868 | $45.14$94,207 |
| WS-12 | $40.06$83,605 | $41.74$87,111 | $43.39$90,555 | $45.07$94,061 | $46.75$97,567 |
| WS-13 | $41.67$86,965 | $43.39$90,555 | $45.13$94,186 | $46.87$97,818 | $48.61$101,449 |
| WS-14 | $43.36$90,492 | $45.16$94,249 | $46.97$98,026 | $48.79$101,825 | $50.60$105,602 |
| WS-15 | $45.61$95,188 | $47.52$99,174 | $49.41$103,119 | $51.34$107,147 | $53.23$111,091 |
| WS-16 | $48.08$100,343 | $50.10$104,559 | $52.08$108,691 | $54.10$112,907 | $56.09$117,060 |
| WS-17 | $50.24$104,851 | $52.30$109,150 | $54.38$113,491 | $56.50$117,916 | $58.54$122,173 |
| WS-18 | $53.44$111,529 | $55.70$116,246 | $57.93$120,900 | $60.11$125,450 | $62.31$130,041 |
| WS-19 | $52.72$110,027 | $54.92$114,618 | $57.12$119,209 | $59.31$123,780 | $61.51$128,371 |
Counties covered by schedule 202
Bibb County, AL; Blount County, AL; Calhoun County, AL; Chilton County, AL; Clay County, AL; Coosa County, AL; Cullman County, AL; Etowah County, AL; Greene County, AL; Hale County, AL; Jefferson County, AL; Pickens County, AL; Shelby County, AL; St. Clair County, AL; Talladega County, AL; Tuscaloosa County, AL; Walker County, AL; Winston County, AL
Schedule 002: Rest of United States (Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL)
Issued March 17, 2026, effective March 22, 2026, superseding the schedule issued November 25, 2025. GS locality: Rest of United States (RUS). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Rest of U.S. GS pay scale 2026.
WG: nonsupervisory grades 1 to 15
| WG (nonsupervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG-1 | $12.86$26,839 | $13.42$28,008 | $13.95$29,114 | $14.46$30,178 | $15.02$31,347 |
| WG-2 | $14.64$30,554 | $15.25$31,827 | $15.85$33,079 | $16.46$34,352 | $17.05$35,583 |
| WG-3 | $16.39$34,206 | $17.05$35,583 | $17.78$37,107 | $18.43$38,463 | $19.13$39,924 |
| WG-4 | $18.16$37,900 | $18.91$39,465 | $19.64$40,989 | $20.45$42,679 | $21.17$44,182 |
| WG-5 | $19.99$41,719 | $20.81$43,430 | $21.68$45,246 | $22.52$46,999 | $23.35$48,731 |
| WG-6 | $21.83$45,559 | $22.71$47,396 | $23.61$49,274 | $24.52$51,173 | $25.44$53,093 |
| WG-7 | $23.61$49,274 | $24.60$51,340 | $25.59$53,406 | $26.54$55,389 | $27.56$57,518 |
| WG-8 | $25.42$53,052 | $26.47$55,243 | $27.56$57,518 | $28.60$59,688 | $29.67$61,921 |
| WG-9 | $27.18$56,725 | $28.32$59,104 | $29.43$61,420 | $30.57$63,800 | $31.70$66,158 |
| WG-10 | $29.01$60,544 | $30.21$63,048 | $31.43$65,594 | $32.64$68,120 | $33.88$70,708 |
| WG-11 | $30.87$64,426 | $32.14$67,076 | $33.45$69,810 | $34.73$72,482 | $36.02$75,174 |
| WG-12 | $32.73$68,308 | $34.08$71,125 | $35.45$73,984 | $36.81$76,822 | $38.18$79,682 |
| WG-13 | $34.56$72,127 | $36.02$75,174 | $37.43$78,116 | $38.89$81,163 | $40.34$84,190 |
| WG-14 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.96$79,223 | $39.47$82,374 | $40.98$85,525 | $42.52$88,739 |
| WG-15 | $38.28$79,890 | $39.87$83,209 | $41.48$86,569 | $43.06$89,866 | $44.66$93,205 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $14.19$29,615 | $14.77$30,825 | $15.34$32,015 | $15.92$33,225 | $16.56$34,561 |
| WL-2 | $16.08$33,559 | $16.78$35,020 | $17.45$36,418 | $18.15$37,879 | $18.80$39,236 |
| WL-3 | $18.01$37,587 | $18.79$39,215 | $19.55$40,801 | $20.31$42,387 | $21.02$43,869 |
| WL-4 | $19.95$41,636 | $20.78$43,368 | $21.63$45,142 | $22.45$46,853 | $23.32$48,669 |
| WL-5 | $21.99$45,893 | $22.92$47,834 | $23.84$49,754 | $24.78$51,716 | $25.68$53,594 |
| WL-6 | $23.99$50,067 | $24.96$52,092 | $26.00$54,262 | $26.96$56,266 | $27.96$58,353 |
| WL-7 | $26.01$54,283 | $27.07$56,495 | $28.14$58,728 | $29.22$60,982 | $30.29$63,215 |
| WL-8 | $27.98$58,394 | $29.13$60,794 | $30.26$63,153 | $31.43$65,594 | $32.60$68,036 |
| WL-9 | $29.95$62,506 | $31.19$65,094 | $32.44$67,702 | $33.63$70,186 | $34.91$72,857 |
| WL-10 | $31.92$66,617 | $33.25$69,393 | $34.57$72,148 | $35.93$74,986 | $37.22$77,678 |
| WL-11 | $33.96$70,875 | $35.38$73,838 | $36.79$76,781 | $38.19$79,703 | $39.62$82,687 |
| WL-12 | $36.00$75,132 | $37.48$78,221 | $39.00$81,393 | $40.51$84,544 | $41.99$87,633 |
| WL-13 | $38.04$79,389 | $39.62$82,687 | $41.18$85,943 | $42.80$89,324 | $44.38$92,621 |
| WL-14 | $40.06$83,605 | $41.75$87,132 | $43.40$90,576 | $45.09$94,103 | $46.78$97,630 |
| WL-15 | $42.10$87,863 | $43.84$91,494 | $45.64$95,251 | $47.38$98,882 | $49.13$102,534 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $21.49$44,850 | $22.37$46,686 | $23.27$48,564 | $24.15$50,401 | $25.05$52,279 |
| WS-2 | $23.21$48,439 | $24.21$50,526 | $25.16$52,509 | $26.12$54,512 | $27.11$56,579 |
| WS-3 | $25.07$52,321 | $26.11$54,492 | $27.18$56,725 | $28.19$58,833 | $29.23$61,003 |
| WS-4 | $26.90$56,140 | $28.05$58,540 | $29.14$60,815 | $30.28$63,194 | $31.39$65,511 |
| WS-5 | $28.70$59,897 | $29.92$62,443 | $31.11$64,927 | $32.32$67,452 | $33.50$69,915 |
| WS-6 | $30.53$63,716 | $31.80$66,367 | $33.09$69,059 | $34.34$71,668 | $35.62$74,339 |
| WS-7 | $32.30$67,410 | $33.65$70,228 | $35.01$73,066 | $36.34$75,842 | $37.68$78,638 |
| WS-8 | $34.09$71,146 | $35.52$74,130 | $36.93$77,073 | $38.36$80,057 | $39.77$83,000 |
| WS-9 | $35.91$74,944 | $37.35$77,949 | $38.86$81,101 | $40.36$84,231 | $41.88$87,404 |
| WS-10 | $37.75$78,784 | $39.29$81,998 | $40.87$85,296 | $42.46$88,614 | $44.02$91,870 |
| WS-11 | $38.70$80,767 | $40.29$84,085 | $41.91$87,466 | $43.54$90,868 | $45.14$94,207 |
| WS-12 | $40.06$83,605 | $41.74$87,111 | $43.39$90,555 | $45.07$94,061 | $46.75$97,567 |
| WS-13 | $41.67$86,965 | $43.39$90,555 | $45.13$94,186 | $46.87$97,818 | $48.61$101,449 |
| WS-14 | $43.26$90,284 | $45.07$94,061 | $46.86$97,797 | $48.69$101,616 | $50.48$105,352 |
| WS-15 | $45.39$94,729 | $47.29$98,694 | $49.20$102,680 | $51.09$106,625 | $52.98$110,569 |
| WS-16 | $47.65$99,446 | $49.65$103,620 | $51.62$107,731 | $53.62$111,905 | $55.59$116,016 |
| WS-17 | $49.76$103,849 | $51.80$108,107 | $53.84$112,364 | $55.94$116,747 | $57.96$120,963 |
| WS-18 | $52.91$110,423 | $55.13$115,056 | $57.36$119,710 | $59.50$124,177 | $61.70$128,768 |
| WS-19 | $52.72$110,027 | $54.92$114,618 | $57.12$119,209 | $59.31$123,780 | $61.51$128,371 |
Counties covered by schedule 002
Fayette County, AL; Lamar County, AL; Marengo County, AL; Perry County, AL
Other wage areas in Alabama
- Dothan, AL WG-10 step 2 $28.28
- Huntsville, AL WG-10 step 2 $30.27
- Pensacola, FL WG-10 step 2 $34.51
- Atlanta, GA WG-10 step 2 $37.75
- Montgomery-Selma, AL WG-10 step 2 $26.96
- Meridian, MS WG-10 step 2 $31.04
- Nashville, TN WG-10 step 2 $30.27
Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL?
Under schedule 202 (Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $29.01 at step 1, $30.21 at step 2 and $33.88 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $63,048, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 202 on March 17, 2026 with an effective date of March 22, 2026. It replaced the schedule issued November 25, 2025. New schedules follow each local wage survey, so check DCPAS for a newer one.
Why does Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 002 (Rest of United States); 202 (Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL). This page leads with schedule 202, the one that covers this wage area's survey area (5 CFR 532 Appendix C). Use the schedule for the GS locality of your duty station. The county lists on this page show where each applies.
Are these the rates paid in Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL?
These are the regular schedule rates. DCPAS marks schedule 002 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M002 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. DCPAS marks schedule 202 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M202 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. Find the special schedules on the DCPAS site under "Special".
Which counties does the Birmingham-Cullman-Talladega, AL wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 18 counties or areas for schedule 202; the full list is on this page. OPM's final rule on wage area criteria took effect on October 1, 2025, and DCPAS says it affects approximately 230 counties, so check the list if your county may have moved.
Sources (checked October 31, 2026): DCPAS Wage and Salary Division, appropriated fund wage schedules · 5 CFR 532.203, structure of regular wage schedules (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.201, definitions (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.211, criteria for appropriated fund wage areas (eCFR) · 5 CFR 532.417, within-grade increases (eCFR) · 5 U.S.C. 5343, prevailing rate determinations · 5 U.S.C. 5342, definitions · 5 U.S.C. 5504, biweekly pay periods; computation of pay · Federal Register, January 21, 2025 (90 FR 7428), final rule on wage area criteria · OPM, Facts About the Federal Wage System · OPM CPM 2025-20, Fiscal Year 2026 Prevailing Rate Pay Adjustments · OPM CPM 2026-05, Update to Fiscal Year 2026 Prevailing Rate Pay Adjustments · House Document 119-189, Alternative Plan for Pay Adjustments (January 2027)