Denver, CO WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 022)
In the Denver, Colorado wage area, a WG-10 earns $32.38 at step 1, $33.73 at step 2 and $37.76 at step 5 under schedule 022 (Denver-Aurora, CO), effective March 22, 2026. Step 2 is about $70,395 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 022 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 022: Denver-Aurora, CO (Denver, CO)
Issued March 17, 2026, effective March 22, 2026, superseding the schedule issued November 25, 2025. GS locality: Denver-Aurora, CO (DEN). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Denver 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 | $19.91$41,552 | $20.74$43,284 | $21.56$44,996 | $22.39$46,728 | $23.22$48,460 |
| WG-2 | $20.90$43,618 | $21.77$45,434 | $22.64$47,250 | $23.51$49,065 | $24.38$50,881 |
| WG-3 | $21.88$45,664 | $22.80$47,584 | $23.72$49,504 | $24.63$51,403 | $25.53$53,281 |
| WG-4 | $22.87$47,730 | $23.83$49,733 | $24.79$51,737 | $25.74$53,719 | $26.69$55,702 |
| WG-5 | $23.87$49,817 | $24.86$51,883 | $25.86$53,970 | $26.86$56,057 | $27.85$58,123 |
| WG-6 | $24.86$51,883 | $25.90$54,053 | $26.93$56,203 | $27.97$58,373 | $29.01$60,544 |
| WG-7 | $26.59$55,493 | $27.71$57,831 | $28.84$60,189 | $29.92$62,443 | $31.05$64,801 |
| WG-8 | $28.54$59,563 | $29.74$62,067 | $30.91$64,509 | $32.09$66,972 | $33.30$69,497 |
| WG-9 | $30.48$63,612 | $31.75$66,262 | $32.99$68,850 | $34.29$71,563 | $35.53$74,151 |
| WG-10 | $32.38$67,577 | $33.73$70,395 | $35.04$73,128 | $36.41$75,988 | $37.76$78,805 |
| WG-11 | $34.01$70,979 | $35.50$74,089 | $36.92$77,052 | $38.28$79,890 | $39.70$82,854 |
| WG-12 | $35.52$74,130 | $36.97$77,156 | $38.45$80,245 | $39.94$83,355 | $41.44$86,485 |
| WG-13 | $36.74$76,676 | $38.30$79,932 | $39.85$83,167 | $41.34$86,277 | $42.87$89,470 |
| WG-14 | $37.94$79,181 | $39.50$82,437 | $41.11$85,797 | $42.70$89,115 | $44.26$92,371 |
| WG-15 | $39.17$81,748 | $40.84$85,233 | $42.46$88,614 | $44.12$92,078 | $45.76$95,501 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $21.90$45,705 | $22.81$47,604 | $23.73$49,525 | $24.64$51,424 | $25.56$53,344 |
| WL-2 | $22.98$47,959 | $23.95$49,984 | $24.90$51,966 | $25.86$53,970 | $26.82$55,973 |
| WL-3 | $24.08$50,255 | $25.08$52,342 | $26.08$54,429 | $27.08$56,516 | $28.09$58,624 |
| WL-4 | $25.17$52,530 | $26.21$54,700 | $27.26$56,892 | $28.32$59,104 | $29.36$61,274 |
| WL-5 | $26.25$54,784 | $27.37$57,121 | $28.46$59,396 | $29.54$61,650 | $30.65$63,967 |
| WL-6 | $27.35$57,079 | $28.49$59,459 | $29.64$61,859 | $30.76$64,196 | $31.90$66,575 |
| WL-7 | $29.24$61,024 | $30.46$63,570 | $31.67$66,095 | $32.91$68,683 | $34.11$71,188 |
| WL-8 | $31.39$65,511 | $32.71$68,266 | $34.01$70,979 | $35.30$73,671 | $36.55$76,280 |
| WL-9 | $33.50$69,915 | $34.95$72,941 | $36.31$75,779 | $37.70$78,680 | $39.09$81,581 |
| WL-10 | $35.59$74,276 | $37.13$77,490 | $38.59$80,537 | $40.03$83,543 | $41.53$86,673 |
| WL-11 | $37.53$78,325 | $39.09$81,581 | $40.60$84,732 | $42.21$88,092 | $43.75$91,306 |
| WL-12 | $39.04$81,476 | $40.69$84,920 | $42.33$88,343 | $43.95$91,724 | $45.63$95,230 |
| WL-13 | $40.46$84,440 | $42.12$87,904 | $43.85$91,515 | $45.55$95,063 | $47.22$98,548 |
| WL-14 | $41.78$87,195 | $43.43$90,638 | $45.26$94,458 | $46.98$98,047 | $48.78$101,804 |
| WL-15 | $43.20$90,158 | $44.92$93,748 | $46.77$97,609 | $48.53$101,282 | $50.36$105,101 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $30.79$64,259 | $32.08$66,951 | $33.37$69,643 | $34.64$72,294 | $35.93$74,986 |
| WS-2 | $31.78$66,325 | $33.11$69,101 | $34.44$71,876 | $35.76$74,631 | $37.09$77,407 |
| WS-3 | $32.77$68,391 | $34.14$71,250 | $35.52$74,130 | $36.87$76,948 | $38.24$79,807 |
| WS-4 | $33.77$70,478 | $35.17$73,400 | $36.58$76,342 | $37.99$79,285 | $39.39$82,207 |
| WS-5 | $34.77$72,565 | $36.21$75,570 | $37.66$78,596 | $39.10$81,602 | $40.56$84,649 |
| WS-6 | $35.76$74,631 | $37.24$77,720 | $38.74$80,850 | $40.22$83,939 | $41.71$87,049 |
| WS-7 | $37.29$77,824 | $38.84$81,059 | $40.40$84,315 | $41.96$87,571 | $43.50$90,785 |
| WS-8 | $38.82$81,017 | $40.45$84,419 | $42.06$87,779 | $43.68$91,160 | $45.29$94,520 |
| WS-9 | $40.35$84,210 | $42.04$87,737 | $43.73$91,265 | $45.40$94,750 | $47.09$98,277 |
| WS-10 | $42.08$87,821 | $43.83$91,473 | $45.60$95,167 | $47.29$98,694 | $49.07$102,409 |
| WS-11 | $43.02$89,783 | $44.83$93,560 | $46.62$97,296 | $48.39$100,990 | $50.17$104,705 |
| WS-12 | $44.15$92,141 | $45.98$95,960 | $47.88$99,926 | $49.66$103,640 | $51.50$107,481 |
| WS-13 | $45.63$95,230 | $47.53$99,195 | $49.40$103,098 | $51.30$107,063 | $53.16$110,945 |
| WS-14 | $47.33$98,778 | $49.31$102,910 | $51.23$106,917 | $53.21$111,049 | $55.23$115,265 |
| WS-15 | $49.35$102,993 | $51.41$107,293 | $53.43$111,508 | $55.46$115,745 | $57.52$120,044 |
| WS-16 | $51.61$107,710 | $53.75$112,176 | $55.89$116,642 | $58.02$121,088 | $60.15$125,533 |
| WS-17 | $54.12$112,948 | $56.40$117,707 | $58.67$122,444 | $60.92$127,140 | $63.15$131,794 |
| WS-18 | $56.98$118,917 | $59.34$123,843 | $61.72$128,810 | $64.08$133,735 | $66.46$138,702 |
| 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 022
Adams County, CO; Arapahoe County, CO; Boulder County, CO; Broomfield County, CO; Clear Creek County, CO; Denver County, CO; Douglas County, CO; Elbert County, CO; Gilpin County, CO; Jefferson County, CO; Larimer County, CO; Lincoln County, CO; Park County, CO; Weld County, CO
Schedule 222: Rest of United States (Denver, CO)
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 | $19.78$41,281 | $20.61$43,013 | $21.42$44,704 | $22.25$46,436 | $23.07$48,147 |
| WG-2 | $20.76$43,326 | $21.63$45,142 | $22.49$46,937 | $23.36$48,752 | $24.21$50,526 |
| WG-3 | $21.81$45,517 | $22.72$47,417 | $23.63$49,316 | $24.55$51,236 | $25.45$53,114 |
| WG-4 | $22.80$47,584 | $23.76$49,587 | $24.70$51,549 | $25.65$53,532 | $26.61$55,535 |
| WG-5 | $23.80$49,671 | $24.79$51,737 | $25.77$53,782 | $26.76$55,848 | $27.75$57,914 |
| WG-6 | $24.79$51,737 | $25.82$53,886 | $26.85$56,036 | $27.88$58,186 | $28.92$60,356 |
| WG-7 | $25.83$53,907 | $26.91$56,161 | $27.97$58,373 | $29.04$60,606 | $30.12$62,860 |
| WG-8 | $27.76$57,935 | $28.92$60,356 | $30.03$62,673 | $31.18$65,073 | $32.35$67,514 |
| WG-9 | $29.63$61,838 | $30.88$64,447 | $32.10$66,993 | $33.36$69,622 | $34.57$72,148 |
| WG-10 | $31.64$66,033 | $32.95$68,767 | $34.26$71,501 | $35.61$74,318 | $36.91$77,031 |
| WG-11 | $33.42$69,748 | $34.80$72,628 | $36.18$75,508 | $37.60$78,471 | $39.00$81,393 |
| WG-12 | $35.04$73,128 | $36.48$76,134 | $37.96$79,223 | $39.44$82,311 | $40.91$85,379 |
| WG-13 | $36.28$75,716 | $37.80$78,889 | $39.31$82,040 | $40.81$85,170 | $42.37$88,426 |
| WG-14 | $37.45$78,158 | $39.03$81,456 | $40.62$84,774 | $42.14$87,946 | $43.69$91,181 |
| WG-15 | $38.68$80,725 | $40.31$84,127 | $41.92$87,487 | $43.57$90,931 | $45.21$94,353 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $21.76$45,413 | $22.67$47,312 | $23.57$49,191 | $24.48$51,090 | $25.40$53,010 |
| WL-2 | $22.84$47,667 | $23.79$49,650 | $24.74$51,632 | $25.69$53,615 | $26.64$55,598 |
| WL-3 | $24.00$50,088 | $25.00$52,175 | $26.00$54,262 | $26.99$56,328 | $28.00$58,436 |
| WL-4 | $25.08$52,342 | $26.12$54,512 | $27.16$56,683 | $28.21$58,874 | $29.25$61,045 |
| WL-5 | $26.16$54,596 | $27.26$56,892 | $28.37$59,208 | $29.45$61,462 | $30.55$63,758 |
| WL-6 | $27.25$56,871 | $28.40$59,271 | $29.54$61,650 | $30.66$63,987 | $31.80$66,367 |
| WL-7 | $28.43$59,333 | $29.60$61,775 | $30.76$64,196 | $31.97$66,721 | $33.14$69,163 |
| WL-8 | $30.51$63,674 | $31.80$66,367 | $33.04$68,954 | $34.31$71,605 | $35.61$74,318 |
| WL-9 | $32.62$68,078 | $33.96$70,875 | $35.31$73,692 | $36.67$76,530 | $38.05$79,410 |
| WL-10 | $34.79$72,607 | $36.26$75,675 | $37.69$78,659 | $39.13$81,664 | $40.61$84,753 |
| WL-11 | $36.75$76,697 | $38.28$79,890 | $39.81$83,083 | $41.38$86,360 | $42.87$89,470 |
| WL-12 | $38.58$80,516 | $40.14$83,772 | $41.81$87,257 | $43.43$90,638 | $45.06$94,040 |
| WL-13 | $39.95$83,376 | $41.64$86,903 | $43.31$90,388 | $44.99$93,894 | $46.66$97,379 |
| WL-14 | $41.23$86,047 | $42.91$89,553 | $44.72$93,331 | $46.38$96,795 | $48.17$100,531 |
| WL-15 | $42.66$89,031 | $44.39$92,642 | $46.21$96,440 | $47.94$100,051 | $49.77$103,870 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $30.60$63,862 | $31.88$66,534 | $33.14$69,163 | $34.42$71,835 | $35.70$74,506 |
| WS-2 | $31.61$65,970 | $32.93$68,725 | $34.24$71,459 | $35.56$74,214 | $36.89$76,989 |
| WS-3 | $32.67$68,182 | $34.04$71,041 | $35.41$73,901 | $36.76$76,718 | $38.12$79,556 |
| WS-4 | $33.67$70,269 | $35.07$73,191 | $36.47$76,113 | $37.87$79,035 | $39.27$81,956 |
| WS-5 | $34.66$72,335 | $36.10$75,341 | $37.55$78,367 | $38.99$81,372 | $40.44$84,398 |
| WS-6 | $35.64$74,381 | $37.13$77,490 | $38.62$80,600 | $40.10$83,689 | $41.59$86,798 |
| WS-7 | $37.17$77,574 | $38.72$80,809 | $40.27$84,043 | $41.82$87,278 | $43.36$90,492 |
| WS-8 | $38.70$80,767 | $40.31$84,127 | $41.94$87,529 | $43.55$90,889 | $45.15$94,228 |
| WS-9 | $40.23$83,960 | $41.91$87,466 | $43.60$90,993 | $45.26$94,458 | $46.94$97,964 |
| WS-10 | $41.77$87,174 | $43.51$90,805 | $45.24$94,416 | $46.99$98,068 | $48.73$101,700 |
| WS-11 | $43.29$90,346 | $45.10$94,124 | $46.90$97,880 | $48.72$101,679 | $50.50$105,394 |
| WS-12 | $44.83$93,560 | $46.70$97,463 | $48.57$101,366 | $50.42$105,227 | $52.30$109,150 |
| WS-13 | $46.35$96,732 | $48.29$100,781 | $50.22$104,809 | $52.15$108,837 | $54.09$112,886 |
| WS-14 | $47.78$99,717 | $49.77$103,870 | $51.76$108,023 | $53.75$112,176 | $55.75$116,350 |
| WS-15 | $49.30$102,889 | $51.35$107,167 | $53.41$111,467 | $55.46$115,745 | $57.52$120,044 |
| WS-16 | $50.18$104,726 | $52.27$109,087 | $54.35$113,428 | $56.44$117,790 | $58.53$122,152 |
| WS-17 | $51.31$107,084 | $53.45$111,550 | $55.61$116,058 | $57.75$120,524 | $59.89$124,990 |
| WS-18 | $53.57$111,801 | $55.72$116,288 | $57.94$120,921 | $60.19$125,617 | $62.43$130,291 |
| 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 222
Eagle County, CO; Garfield County, CO; Grand County, CO; Jackson County, CO; Lake County, CO; Logan County, CO; Morgan County, CO; Phillips County, CO; Pitkin County, CO; Rio Blanco County, CO; Routt County, CO; Sedgwick County, CO; Summit County, CO; Washington County, CO; Yuma County, CO
Other wage areas in Colorado
- Northeastern Arizona WG-10 step 2 $34.77
- Southern Colorado WG-10 step 2 $28.27
- Utah WG-10 step 2 $32.23
Denver, CO WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in Denver, CO?
Under schedule 022 (Denver-Aurora, CO, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $32.38 at step 1, $33.73 at step 2 and $37.76 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $70,395, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the Denver, CO wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 022 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 Denver, CO have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 022 (Denver-Aurora, CO); 222 (Rest of United States). This page leads with schedule 022, 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.
Which counties does the Denver, CO wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 14 counties or areas for schedule 022; 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)