Central North Carolina WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 099)
In the Central North Carolina wage area, a WG-10 earns $28.50 at step 1, $29.72 at step 2 and $33.32 at step 5 under schedule 299 (Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC), effective July 12, 2026. Step 2 is about $62,026 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 299 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 299: Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (Central North Carolina)
Issued July 7, 2026, effective July 12, 2026, superseding the schedule issued November 25, 2025. GS locality: Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC (RA). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Raleigh 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 | $14.66$30,595 | $15.29$31,910 | $15.89$33,162 | $16.52$34,477 | $17.06$35,604 |
| WG-2 | $16.35$34,122 | $17.00$35,479 | $17.76$37,065 | $18.41$38,422 | $19.08$39,820 |
| WG-3 | $17.80$37,149 | $18.48$38,568 | $19.30$40,279 | $20.03$41,803 | $20.78$43,368 |
| WG-4 | $19.35$40,383 | $20.13$42,011 | $20.93$43,681 | $21.77$45,434 | $22.60$47,166 |
| WG-5 | $20.89$43,597 | $21.73$45,351 | $22.65$47,271 | $23.51$49,065 | $24.41$50,944 |
| WG-6 | $22.43$46,811 | $23.36$48,752 | $24.32$50,756 | $25.23$52,655 | $26.15$54,575 |
| WG-7 | $23.91$49,900 | $24.94$52,050 | $25.91$54,074 | $26.93$56,203 | $27.96$58,353 |
| WG-8 | $25.36$52,926 | $26.47$55,243 | $27.55$57,497 | $28.64$59,772 | $29.64$61,859 |
| WG-9 | $27.03$56,412 | $28.12$58,686 | $29.21$60,961 | $30.39$63,424 | $31.53$65,803 |
| WG-10 | $28.50$59,480 | $29.72$62,026 | $30.88$64,447 | $32.14$67,076 | $33.32$69,539 |
| WG-11 | $29.95$62,506 | $31.25$65,219 | $32.50$67,828 | $33.78$70,499 | $35.04$73,128 |
| WG-12 | $31.47$65,678 | $32.80$68,454 | $34.09$71,146 | $35.41$73,901 | $36.73$76,656 |
| WG-13 | $33.11$69,101 | $34.51$72,022 | $35.92$74,965 | $37.26$77,762 | $38.66$80,683 |
| WG-14 | $34.61$72,231 | $36.09$75,320 | $37.56$78,388 | $39.02$81,435 | $40.40$84,315 |
| WG-15 | $36.09$75,320 | $37.60$78,471 | $39.13$81,664 | $40.59$84,711 | $42.10$87,863 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $16.12$33,642 | $16.80$35,062 | $17.46$36,439 | $18.13$37,837 | $18.83$39,298 |
| WL-2 | $18.00$37,566 | $18.73$39,090 | $19.47$40,634 | $20.24$42,241 | $20.98$43,785 |
| WL-3 | $19.50$40,697 | $20.41$42,596 | $21.30$44,453 | $22.01$45,935 | $22.84$47,667 |
| WL-4 | $21.27$44,390 | $22.16$46,248 | $23.01$48,022 | $23.96$50,005 | $24.85$51,862 |
| WL-5 | $22.93$47,855 | $23.90$49,879 | $24.84$51,841 | $25.80$53,845 | $26.74$55,806 |
| WL-6 | $24.66$51,465 | $25.69$53,615 | $26.72$55,765 | $27.76$57,935 | $28.78$60,064 |
| WL-7 | $26.41$55,118 | $27.47$57,330 | $28.63$59,751 | $29.62$61,817 | $30.79$64,259 |
| WL-8 | $27.91$58,248 | $29.19$60,920 | $30.27$63,173 | $31.49$65,720 | $32.68$68,203 |
| WL-9 | $29.70$61,984 | $31.02$64,739 | $32.22$67,243 | $33.47$69,852 | $34.75$72,523 |
| WL-10 | $31.41$65,553 | $32.71$68,266 | $34.00$70,958 | $35.38$73,838 | $36.67$76,530 |
| WL-11 | $33.00$68,871 | $34.38$71,751 | $35.80$74,715 | $37.18$77,595 | $38.60$80,558 |
| WL-12 | $34.63$72,273 | $36.05$75,236 | $37.53$78,325 | $38.97$81,330 | $40.51$84,544 |
| WL-13 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.99$79,285 | $39.50$82,437 | $40.98$85,525 | $42.52$88,739 |
| WL-14 | $38.14$79,598 | $39.70$82,854 | $41.26$86,110 | $42.86$89,449 | $44.52$92,913 |
| WL-15 | $39.71$82,875 | $41.45$86,506 | $43.15$90,054 | $44.71$93,310 | $46.32$96,670 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $23.28$48,585 | $24.30$50,714 | $25.28$52,759 | $26.30$54,888 | $27.20$56,766 |
| WS-2 | $24.91$51,987 | $25.98$54,220 | $26.97$56,286 | $27.98$58,394 | $29.06$60,648 |
| WS-3 | $26.37$55,034 | $27.44$57,267 | $28.54$59,563 | $29.67$61,921 | $30.74$64,154 |
| WS-4 | $27.89$58,206 | $29.05$60,627 | $30.22$63,069 | $31.40$65,532 | $32.62$68,078 |
| WS-5 | $29.51$61,587 | $30.75$64,175 | $32.00$66,784 | $33.20$69,288 | $34.48$71,960 |
| WS-6 | $31.08$64,864 | $32.31$67,431 | $33.64$70,207 | $34.87$72,774 | $36.23$75,612 |
| WS-7 | $32.46$67,744 | $33.94$70,833 | $35.21$73,483 | $36.64$76,468 | $37.99$79,285 |
| WS-8 | $33.98$70,916 | $35.41$73,901 | $36.81$76,822 | $38.24$79,807 | $39.64$82,729 |
| WS-9 | $35.68$74,464 | $37.15$77,532 | $38.66$80,683 | $40.13$83,751 | $41.67$86,965 |
| WS-10 | $37.15$77,532 | $38.72$80,809 | $40.24$83,981 | $41.81$87,257 | $43.34$90,451 |
| WS-11 | $38.36$80,057 | $39.97$83,417 | $41.57$86,757 | $43.16$90,075 | $44.77$93,435 |
| WS-12 | $40.05$83,584 | $41.70$87,028 | $43.38$90,534 | $45.04$93,998 | $46.69$97,442 |
| WS-13 | $41.95$87,550 | $43.69$91,181 | $45.48$94,917 | $47.23$98,569 | $48.96$102,180 |
| WS-14 | $44.30$92,454 | $46.17$96,357 | $48.10$100,385 | $49.87$104,079 | $51.73$107,961 |
| WS-15 | $47.07$98,235 | $49.08$102,430 | $51.04$106,520 | $53.01$110,632 | $54.98$114,743 |
| WS-16 | $49.62$103,557 | $51.70$107,898 | $53.74$112,155 | $55.79$116,434 | $57.88$120,796 |
| WS-17 | $52.40$109,359 | $54.58$113,908 | $56.78$118,500 | $58.95$123,029 | $61.13$127,578 |
| WS-18 | $55.53$115,891 | $57.83$120,691 | $60.12$125,470 | $62.41$130,250 | $64.76$135,154 |
| 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 299
Caswell County, NC; Chatham County, NC; Cumberland County, NC; Durham County, NC; Edgecombe County, NC; Franklin County, NC; Granville County, NC; Halifax County, NC; Harnett County, NC; Hoke County, NC; Johnston County, NC; Lee County, NC; Moore County, NC; Nash County, NC; Northampton County, NC; Orange County, NC; Person County, NC; Robeson County, NC; Scotland County, NC; Vance County, NC; Wake County, NC; Warren County, NC; Wayne County, NC; Wilson County, NC
Schedule 099: Rest of United States (Central North Carolina)
Issued July 7, 2026, effective July 12, 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 | $14.03$29,281 | $14.63$30,533 | $15.23$31,785 | $15.83$33,037 | $16.36$34,143 |
| WG-2 | $15.72$32,808 | $16.33$34,081 | $17.00$35,479 | $17.65$36,836 | $18.27$38,129 |
| WG-3 | $17.17$35,834 | $17.87$37,295 | $18.61$38,839 | $19.28$40,237 | $20.03$41,803 |
| WG-4 | $18.77$39,173 | $19.57$40,843 | $20.35$42,470 | $21.12$44,077 | $21.91$45,726 |
| WG-5 | $20.44$42,658 | $21.29$44,432 | $22.18$46,290 | $23.05$48,105 | $23.88$49,838 |
| WG-6 | $22.01$45,935 | $22.92$47,834 | $23.88$49,838 | $24.78$51,716 | $25.66$53,552 |
| WG-7 | $23.55$49,149 | $24.52$51,173 | $25.51$53,239 | $26.46$55,222 | $27.51$57,413 |
| WG-8 | $25.02$52,217 | $26.12$54,512 | $27.18$56,725 | $28.23$58,916 | $29.23$61,003 |
| WG-9 | $26.49$55,285 | $27.58$57,559 | $28.68$59,855 | $29.78$62,151 | $30.96$64,614 |
| WG-10 | $27.98$58,394 | $29.22$60,982 | $30.36$63,361 | $31.62$65,991 | $32.80$68,454 |
| WG-11 | $29.39$61,337 | $30.75$64,175 | $32.00$66,784 | $33.16$69,205 | $34.45$71,897 |
| WG-12 | $30.87$64,426 | $32.17$67,139 | $33.52$69,956 | $34.80$72,628 | $36.07$75,278 |
| WG-13 | $32.32$67,452 | $33.76$70,457 | $35.15$73,358 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.83$78,951 |
| WG-14 | $33.78$70,499 | $35.24$73,546 | $36.63$76,447 | $38.09$79,494 | $39.46$82,353 |
| WG-15 | $35.24$73,546 | $36.69$76,572 | $38.19$79,703 | $39.61$82,666 | $41.11$85,797 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $15.44$32,223 | $16.09$33,580 | $16.70$34,853 | $17.39$36,293 | $18.00$37,566 |
| WL-2 | $17.25$36,001 | $17.95$37,462 | $18.69$39,006 | $19.36$40,404 | $20.11$41,970 |
| WL-3 | $18.86$39,361 | $19.69$41,093 | $20.48$42,742 | $21.28$44,411 | $22.03$45,977 |
| WL-4 | $20.66$43,117 | $21.53$44,933 | $22.39$46,728 | $23.25$48,523 | $24.09$50,276 |
| WL-5 | $22.49$46,937 | $23.41$48,857 | $24.35$50,818 | $25.29$52,780 | $26.23$54,742 |
| WL-6 | $24.21$50,526 | $25.19$52,572 | $26.23$54,742 | $27.20$56,766 | $28.26$58,979 |
| WL-7 | $25.95$54,158 | $27.03$56,412 | $28.13$58,707 | $29.13$60,794 | $30.28$63,194 |
| WL-8 | $27.55$57,497 | $28.75$60,001 | $29.93$62,464 | $31.08$64,864 | $32.21$67,222 |
| WL-9 | $29.13$60,794 | $30.41$63,466 | $31.60$65,949 | $32.81$68,474 | $34.12$71,208 |
| WL-10 | $30.87$64,426 | $32.14$67,076 | $33.42$69,748 | $34.78$72,586 | $36.03$75,195 |
| WL-11 | $32.45$67,723 | $33.78$70,499 | $35.18$73,421 | $36.57$76,322 | $37.93$79,160 |
| WL-12 | $33.97$70,895 | $35.45$73,984 | $36.89$76,989 | $38.27$79,869 | $39.77$83,000 |
| WL-13 | $35.61$74,318 | $37.04$77,302 | $38.58$80,516 | $40.03$83,543 | $41.50$86,611 |
| WL-14 | $37.25$77,741 | $38.76$80,892 | $40.29$84,085 | $41.85$87,341 | $43.47$90,722 |
| WL-15 | $38.78$80,934 | $40.48$84,482 | $42.09$87,842 | $43.62$91,035 | $45.26$94,458 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $22.52$46,999 | $23.47$48,982 | $24.41$50,944 | $25.35$52,905 | $26.23$54,742 |
| WS-2 | $24.06$50,213 | $25.09$52,363 | $26.07$54,408 | $27.06$56,474 | $28.06$58,561 |
| WS-3 | $25.79$53,824 | $26.88$56,099 | $27.94$58,311 | $29.01$60,544 | $30.07$62,756 |
| WS-4 | $27.45$57,288 | $28.58$59,646 | $29.68$61,942 | $30.87$64,426 | $31.99$66,763 |
| WS-5 | $28.90$60,314 | $30.17$62,965 | $31.40$65,532 | $32.54$67,911 | $33.86$70,666 |
| WS-6 | $30.51$63,674 | $31.78$66,325 | $33.04$68,954 | $34.32$71,626 | $35.62$74,339 |
| WS-7 | $31.95$66,680 | $33.39$69,685 | $34.67$72,356 | $36.04$75,215 | $37.36$77,970 |
| WS-8 | $33.51$69,935 | $34.95$72,941 | $36.32$75,800 | $37.75$78,784 | $39.11$81,623 |
| WS-9 | $34.99$73,024 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.96$79,223 | $39.35$82,123 | $40.87$85,296 |
| WS-10 | $36.56$76,301 | $38.08$79,473 | $39.59$82,624 | $41.11$85,797 | $42.65$89,011 |
| WS-11 | $37.75$78,784 | $39.29$81,998 | $40.89$85,337 | $42.53$88,760 | $44.11$92,058 |
| WS-12 | $39.53$82,499 | $41.14$85,859 | $42.80$89,324 | $44.47$92,809 | $46.10$96,211 |
| WS-13 | $41.19$85,964 | $42.91$89,553 | $44.63$93,143 | $46.35$96,732 | $48.08$100,343 |
| WS-14 | $42.90$89,532 | $44.69$93,268 | $46.46$96,962 | $48.26$100,719 | $50.05$104,454 |
| WS-15 | $45.31$94,562 | $47.24$98,590 | $49.09$102,451 | $51.01$106,458 | $52.92$110,444 |
| WS-16 | $47.50$99,133 | $49.48$103,265 | $51.46$107,397 | $53.45$111,550 | $55.42$115,662 |
| WS-17 | $50.18$104,726 | $52.29$109,129 | $54.35$113,428 | $56.42$117,749 | $58.52$122,131 |
| WS-18 | $53.16$110,945 | $55.35$115,515 | $57.57$120,149 | $59.80$124,803 | $62.03$129,457 |
| 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 099
Alamance County, NC; Bladen County, NC; Davidson County, NC; Davie County, NC; Forsyth County, NC; Guilford County, NC; Montgomery County, NC; Randolph County, NC; Richmond County, NC; Rockingham County, NC; Sampson County, NC; Stokes County, NC; Surry County, NC; Yadkin County, NC; Dillon County, SC; Marion County, SC; Marlboro County, SC
Other wage areas in North Carolina and South Carolina
- Asheville, NC WG-10 step 2 $28.19
- Charlotte-Concord, NC WG-10 step 2 $28.94
- Southeastern North Carolina WG-10 step 2 $33.89
- Eastern Tennessee WG-10 step 2 $26.70
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA WG-10 step 2 $29.45
- Augusta, GA WG-10 step 2 $30.91
- Savannah, GA WG-10 step 2 $32.77
- Charleston, SC WG-10 step 2 $29.58
- Columbia, SC WG-10 step 2 $29.61
Central North Carolina WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in Central North Carolina?
Under schedule 299 (Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $28.50 at step 1, $29.72 at step 2 and $33.32 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $62,026, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the Central North Carolina wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 299 on July 7, 2026 with an effective date of July 12, 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 Central North Carolina have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 099 (Rest of United States); 299 (Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC). This page leads with schedule 299, 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 Central North Carolina?
These are the regular schedule rates. DCPAS marks schedule 099 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M099 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. DCPAS marks schedule 299 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M299 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 Central North Carolina wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 24 counties or areas for schedule 299; 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)