St. Louis, MO WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 081)
In the St. Louis, Missouri wage area, a WG-10 earns $33.87 at step 1, $35.31 at step 2 and $39.53 at step 5 under schedule 281 (St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL), effective December 28, 2025. Step 2 is about $73,692 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 281 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 281: St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL (St. Louis, MO)
Issued December 23, 2025, effective December 28, 2025, superseding the schedule issued January 6, 2025. GS locality: St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL (SL). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see St. Louis 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 | $15.15$31,618 | $15.79$32,954 | $16.43$34,289 | $17.05$35,583 | $17.69$36,919 |
| WG-2 | $17.25$36,001 | $17.97$37,503 | $18.66$38,943 | $19.40$40,488 | $20.12$41,990 |
| WG-3 | $19.62$40,947 | $20.45$42,679 | $21.24$44,328 | $22.06$46,039 | $22.89$47,771 |
| WG-4 | $21.99$45,893 | $22.90$47,792 | $23.84$49,754 | $24.74$51,632 | $25.65$53,532 |
| WG-5 | $24.37$50,860 | $25.36$52,926 | $26.40$55,097 | $27.43$57,246 | $28.43$59,333 |
| WG-6 | $26.71$55,744 | $27.81$58,039 | $28.94$60,398 | $30.06$62,735 | $31.16$65,031 |
| WG-7 | $28.85$60,210 | $30.03$62,673 | $31.28$65,281 | $32.44$67,702 | $33.63$70,186 |
| WG-8 | $30.88$64,447 | $32.23$67,264 | $33.48$69,873 | $34.72$72,461 | $36.05$75,236 |
| WG-9 | $32.51$67,848 | $33.84$70,624 | $35.24$73,546 | $36.61$76,405 | $37.98$79,264 |
| WG-10 | $33.87$70,687 | $35.31$73,692 | $36.72$76,635 | $38.10$79,515 | $39.53$82,499 |
| WG-11 | $35.19$73,442 | $36.69$76,572 | $38.20$79,723 | $39.63$82,708 | $41.10$85,776 |
| WG-12 | $36.58$76,342 | $38.09$79,494 | $39.67$82,791 | $41.15$85,880 | $42.79$89,303 |
| WG-13 | $37.91$79,118 | $39.49$82,416 | $41.08$85,734 | $42.75$89,219 | $44.28$92,412 |
| WG-14 | $39.21$81,831 | $40.85$85,254 | $42.56$88,823 | $44.18$92,204 | $45.85$95,689 |
| WG-15 | $40.62$84,774 | $42.30$88,280 | $44.01$91,849 | $45.76$95,501 | $47.41$98,945 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $16.67$34,790 | $17.37$36,251 | $18.06$37,691 | $18.76$39,152 | $19.45$40,592 |
| WL-2 | $18.98$39,611 | $19.76$41,239 | $20.55$42,888 | $21.34$44,537 | $22.12$46,164 |
| WL-3 | $21.59$45,058 | $22.50$46,958 | $23.39$48,815 | $24.29$50,693 | $25.16$52,509 |
| WL-4 | $24.22$50,547 | $25.19$52,572 | $26.22$54,721 | $27.22$56,808 | $28.22$58,895 |
| WL-5 | $26.78$55,890 | $27.92$58,269 | $29.02$60,565 | $30.12$62,860 | $31.26$65,240 |
| WL-6 | $29.36$61,274 | $30.60$63,862 | $31.82$66,408 | $33.06$68,996 | $34.28$71,542 |
| WL-7 | $31.71$66,179 | $33.09$69,059 | $34.43$71,855 | $35.72$74,548 | $37.07$77,365 |
| WL-8 | $33.99$70,937 | $35.43$73,942 | $36.83$76,864 | $38.16$79,640 | $39.68$82,812 |
| WL-9 | $35.79$74,694 | $37.30$77,845 | $38.86$81,101 | $40.27$84,043 | $41.82$87,278 |
| WL-10 | $37.30$77,845 | $38.83$81,038 | $40.37$84,252 | $41.92$87,487 | $43.57$90,931 |
| WL-11 | $38.71$80,788 | $40.32$84,148 | $41.98$87,612 | $43.61$91,014 | $45.25$94,437 |
| WL-12 | $40.25$84,002 | $41.95$87,550 | $43.62$91,035 | $45.30$94,541 | $46.95$97,985 |
| WL-13 | $41.73$87,091 | $43.59$90,972 | $45.30$94,541 | $46.95$97,985 | $48.80$101,846 |
| WL-14 | $43.17$90,096 | $45.05$94,019 | $46.83$97,734 | $48.63$101,491 | $50.45$105,289 |
| WL-15 | $44.70$93,289 | $46.58$97,212 | $48.50$101,220 | $50.37$105,122 | $52.22$108,983 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $25.72$53,678 | $26.78$55,890 | $27.85$58,123 | $28.93$60,377 | $30.01$62,631 |
| WS-2 | $28.11$58,666 | $29.24$61,024 | $30.44$63,528 | $31.61$65,970 | $32.77$68,391 |
| WS-3 | $30.46$63,570 | $31.72$66,200 | $33.00$68,871 | $34.26$71,501 | $35.53$74,151 |
| WS-4 | $32.83$68,516 | $34.20$71,375 | $35.54$74,172 | $36.93$77,073 | $38.30$79,932 |
| WS-5 | $35.18$73,421 | $36.66$76,509 | $38.10$79,515 | $39.60$82,645 | $41.00$85,567 |
| WS-6 | $37.47$78,200 | $39.03$81,456 | $40.59$84,711 | $42.14$87,946 | $43.72$91,244 |
| WS-7 | $39.60$82,645 | $41.23$86,047 | $42.88$89,491 | $44.54$92,955 | $46.19$96,399 |
| WS-8 | $41.38$86,360 | $43.06$89,866 | $44.85$93,602 | $46.55$97,150 | $48.28$100,760 |
| WS-9 | $42.71$89,136 | $44.54$92,955 | $46.38$96,795 | $48.10$100,385 | $49.93$104,204 |
| WS-10 | $44.14$92,120 | $45.90$95,793 | $47.76$99,675 | $49.66$103,640 | $51.48$107,439 |
| WS-11 | $45.16$94,249 | $47.12$98,339 | $48.89$102,033 | $50.87$106,166 | $52.71$110,006 |
| WS-12 | $46.52$97,087 | $48.46$101,136 | $50.39$105,164 | $52.34$109,234 | $54.30$113,324 |
| WS-13 | $47.90$99,967 | $49.93$104,204 | $51.93$108,378 | $53.91$112,510 | $55.92$116,705 |
| WS-14 | $49.24$102,764 | $51.31$107,084 | $53.34$111,321 | $55.39$115,599 | $57.44$119,877 |
| WS-15 | $50.67$105,748 | $52.77$110,131 | $54.90$114,576 | $56.98$118,917 | $59.11$123,363 |
| WS-16 | $51.84$108,190 | $53.95$112,594 | $56.10$117,081 | $58.27$121,609 | $60.44$126,138 |
| WS-17 | $53.02$110,653 | $55.23$115,265 | $57.46$119,919 | $59.66$124,510 | $61.87$129,123 |
| WS-18 | $54.49$113,721 | $56.73$118,396 | $59.03$123,196 | $61.29$127,912 | $63.55$132,629 |
| WS-19 | $52.20$108,941 | $54.37$113,470 | $56.54$117,999 | $58.72$122,549 | $60.89$127,077 |
Counties covered by schedule 281
Bond County, IL; Calhoun County, IL; Clinton County, IL; Fayette County, IL; Greene County, IL; Jersey County, IL; Macoupin County, IL; Madison County, IL; Marion County, IL; Monroe County, IL; Montgomery County, IL; Randolph County, IL; St. Clair County, IL; Washington County, IL; Crawford County, MO; Franklin County, MO; Gasconade County, MO; Iron County, MO; Jefferson County, MO; Lincoln County, MO; Madison County, MO; Montgomery County, MO; Pike County, MO; St. Charles County, MO; St. Francois County, MO; St. Louis city, MO; St. Louis County, MO; Ste. Genevieve County, MO; Warren County, MO; Washington County, MO
Schedule 081: Rest of United States (St. Louis, MO)
Issued December 23, 2025, effective December 28, 2025, superseding the schedule issued January 6, 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 | $15.15$31,618 | $15.79$32,954 | $16.43$34,289 | $17.05$35,583 | $17.69$36,919 |
| WG-2 | $16.98$35,437 | $17.71$36,961 | $18.40$38,401 | $19.09$39,841 | $19.80$41,323 |
| WG-3 | $19.35$40,383 | $20.14$42,032 | $20.95$43,723 | $21.77$45,434 | $22.58$47,124 |
| WG-4 | $21.72$45,330 | $22.60$47,166 | $23.53$49,107 | $24.43$50,985 | $25.32$52,843 |
| WG-5 | $24.10$50,297 | $25.09$52,363 | $26.12$54,512 | $27.15$56,662 | $28.11$58,666 |
| WG-6 | $26.45$55,201 | $27.52$57,434 | $28.64$59,772 | $29.76$62,109 | $30.85$64,384 |
| WG-7 | $28.54$59,563 | $29.73$62,047 | $30.94$64,572 | $32.10$66,993 | $33.27$69,434 |
| WG-8 | $30.54$63,737 | $31.90$66,575 | $33.12$69,121 | $34.36$71,709 | $35.68$74,464 |
| WG-9 | $32.19$67,181 | $33.53$69,977 | $34.93$72,899 | $36.25$75,654 | $37.61$78,492 |
| WG-10 | $33.75$70,436 | $35.16$73,379 | $36.57$76,322 | $37.98$79,264 | $39.36$82,144 |
| WG-11 | $35.04$73,128 | $36.54$76,259 | $38.06$79,431 | $39.48$82,395 | $40.94$85,442 |
| WG-12 | $36.43$76,029 | $37.93$79,160 | $39.51$82,457 | $40.99$85,546 | $42.62$88,948 |
| WG-13 | $37.76$78,805 | $39.31$82,040 | $40.91$85,379 | $42.58$88,864 | $44.10$92,037 |
| WG-14 | $39.05$81,497 | $40.68$84,899 | $42.37$88,426 | $44.00$91,828 | $45.66$95,292 |
| WG-15 | $40.47$84,461 | $42.13$87,925 | $43.83$91,473 | $45.59$95,146 | $47.24$98,590 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $16.67$34,790 | $17.37$36,251 | $18.06$37,691 | $18.76$39,152 | $19.45$40,592 |
| WL-2 | $18.70$39,027 | $19.47$40,634 | $20.25$42,262 | $21.00$43,827 | $21.80$45,497 |
| WL-3 | $21.30$44,453 | $22.16$46,248 | $23.06$48,126 | $23.94$49,963 | $24.83$51,820 |
| WL-4 | $23.91$49,900 | $24.87$51,904 | $25.89$54,032 | $26.87$56,078 | $27.86$58,144 |
| WL-5 | $26.51$55,326 | $27.62$57,643 | $28.73$59,960 | $29.81$62,213 | $30.93$64,551 |
| WL-6 | $29.05$60,627 | $30.28$63,194 | $31.49$65,720 | $32.71$68,266 | $33.93$70,812 |
| WL-7 | $31.38$65,490 | $32.75$68,349 | $34.06$71,083 | $35.35$73,775 | $36.69$76,572 |
| WL-8 | $33.64$70,207 | $35.05$73,149 | $36.46$76,092 | $37.79$78,868 | $39.26$81,936 |
| WL-9 | $35.47$74,026 | $36.96$77,136 | $38.50$80,350 | $39.89$83,250 | $41.44$86,485 |
| WL-10 | $37.13$77,490 | $38.68$80,725 | $40.22$83,939 | $41.77$87,174 | $43.32$90,409 |
| WL-11 | $38.55$80,454 | $40.17$83,835 | $41.81$87,257 | $43.43$90,638 | $45.07$94,061 |
| WL-12 | $40.09$83,668 | $41.78$87,195 | $43.46$90,701 | $45.13$94,186 | $46.78$97,630 |
| WL-13 | $41.57$86,757 | $43.40$90,576 | $45.13$94,186 | $46.78$97,630 | $48.61$101,449 |
| WL-14 | $43.01$89,762 | $44.87$93,644 | $46.64$97,338 | $48.43$101,073 | $50.25$104,872 |
| WL-15 | $44.52$92,913 | $46.38$96,795 | $48.30$100,802 | $50.17$104,705 | $52.01$108,545 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $25.61$53,448 | $26.68$55,681 | $27.75$57,914 | $28.81$60,126 | $29.88$62,360 |
| WS-2 | $27.75$57,914 | $28.86$60,231 | $30.02$62,652 | $31.17$65,052 | $32.34$67,494 |
| WS-3 | $30.13$62,881 | $31.39$65,511 | $32.65$68,141 | $33.90$70,749 | $35.16$73,379 |
| WS-4 | $32.50$67,828 | $33.84$70,624 | $35.17$73,400 | $36.54$76,259 | $37.90$79,097 |
| WS-5 | $34.81$72,648 | $36.27$75,695 | $37.71$78,701 | $39.18$81,769 | $40.58$84,690 |
| WS-6 | $37.07$77,365 | $38.62$80,600 | $40.16$83,814 | $41.71$87,049 | $43.25$90,263 |
| WS-7 | $39.18$81,769 | $40.81$85,170 | $42.42$88,531 | $44.06$91,953 | $45.69$95,355 |
| WS-8 | $40.95$85,463 | $42.62$88,948 | $44.38$92,621 | $46.06$96,127 | $47.78$99,717 |
| WS-9 | $42.47$88,635 | $44.22$92,287 | $46.00$96,002 | $47.77$99,696 | $49.54$103,390 |
| WS-10 | $43.89$91,598 | $45.72$95,418 | $47.55$99,237 | $49.37$103,035 | $51.20$106,854 |
| WS-11 | $44.90$93,706 | $46.85$97,776 | $48.63$101,491 | $50.59$105,581 | $52.41$109,380 |
| WS-12 | $46.05$96,106 | $47.97$100,113 | $49.89$104,120 | $51.81$108,127 | $53.75$112,176 |
| WS-13 | $47.39$98,903 | $49.40$103,098 | $51.40$107,272 | $53.34$111,321 | $55.33$115,474 |
| WS-14 | $48.73$101,700 | $50.78$105,978 | $52.78$110,152 | $54.80$114,368 | $56.86$118,667 |
| WS-15 | $49.94$104,225 | $52.02$108,566 | $54.10$112,907 | $56.19$117,269 | $58.25$121,568 |
| WS-16 | $50.89$106,207 | $52.98$110,569 | $55.09$114,973 | $57.18$119,335 | $59.32$123,801 |
| WS-17 | $51.77$108,044 | $53.92$112,531 | $56.13$117,143 | $58.25$121,568 | $60.42$126,097 |
| WS-18 | $53.15$110,924 | $55.34$115,495 | $57.55$120,107 | $59.78$124,761 | $62.01$129,415 |
| WS-19 | $52.20$108,941 | $54.37$113,470 | $56.54$117,999 | $58.72$122,549 | $60.89$127,077 |
Counties covered by schedule 081
Adams County, IL; Alexander County, IL; Clay County, IL; Effingham County, IL; Franklin County, IL; Hamilton County, IL; Jackson County, IL; Jefferson County, IL; Johnson County, IL; Perry County, IL; Pike County, IL; Pope County, IL; Pulaski County, IL; Saline County, IL; Union County, IL; Wayne County, IL; Williamson County, IL; Audrain County, MO; Bollinger County, MO; Boone County, MO; Callaway County, MO; Cape Girardeau County, MO; Clark County, MO; Cole County, MO; Cooper County, MO; Howard County, MO; Knox County, MO; Lewis County, MO; Marion County, MO; Mississippi County, MO; Moniteau County, MO; Monroe County, MO; Osage County, MO; Perry County, MO; Ralls County, MO; Randolph County, MO; Scotland County, MO; Scott County, MO; Shelby County, MO
Other wage areas in Illinois and Missouri
- Bloomington-Pontiac, IL WG-10 step 2 $31.12
- Chicago-Naperville, IL WG-10 step 2 $35.15
- Evansville-Henderson, IN WG-10 step 2 $32.07
- Davenport-Moline, IA WG-10 step 2 $33.42
- Nashville, TN WG-10 step 2 $30.27
- Kansas City, MO WG-10 step 2 $36.66
- Southern Missouri WG-10 step 2 $28.28
- Tulsa, OK WG-10 step 2 $32.07
- Memphis, TN WG-10 step 2 $31.27
St. Louis, MO WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in St. Louis, MO?
Under schedule 281 (St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $33.87 at step 1, $35.31 at step 2 and $39.53 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $73,692, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the St. Louis, MO wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 281 on December 23, 2025 with an effective date of December 28, 2025. It replaced the schedule issued January 6, 2025. New schedules follow each local wage survey, so check DCPAS for a newer one.
Why does St. Louis, MO have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 081 (Rest of United States); 281 (St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL). This page leads with schedule 281, 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 St. Louis, MO?
These are the regular schedule rates. DCPAS marks schedule 081 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M081 for the payable rates. The rates shown are the regular schedule. DCPAS marks schedule 281 as impacted by OPM CPM 2022-02 (the $15 per hour minimum pay rate for federal employees) and points to special rate schedule M281 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 St. Louis, MO wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 30 counties or areas for schedule 281; 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)