Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC WG Pay Scale 2026 (Wage Area 027)
In the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, District of Columbia wage area, a WG-10 earns $34.71 at step 1, $36.18 at step 2 and $40.55 at step 5 under schedule 027 (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA), effective July 1, 2026. Step 2 is about $75,508 a year at 2,087 hours, an estimate.
Schedule 027 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 027: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC)
Issued June 16, 2026, effective July 1, 2026, superseding the schedule issued December 23, 2025. GS locality: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (DCB). For General Schedule pay in the same locality, see Washington DC 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 | $18.50$38,610 | $19.28$40,237 | $20.04$41,823 | $20.81$43,430 | $21.59$45,058 |
| WG-2 | $19.43$40,550 | $20.24$42,241 | $21.04$43,910 | $21.85$45,601 | $22.66$47,291 |
| WG-3 | $20.36$42,491 | $21.20$44,244 | $22.05$46,018 | $22.90$47,792 | $23.75$49,566 |
| WG-4 | $22.25$46,436 | $23.14$48,293 | $24.06$50,213 | $25.01$52,196 | $25.92$54,095 |
| WG-5 | $24.50$51,132 | $25.48$53,177 | $26.55$55,410 | $27.53$57,455 | $28.58$59,646 |
| WG-6 | $26.74$55,806 | $27.84$58,102 | $28.98$60,481 | $30.08$62,777 | $31.19$65,094 |
| WG-7 | $29.02$60,565 | $30.21$63,048 | $31.40$65,532 | $32.61$68,057 | $33.82$70,582 |
| WG-8 | $31.20$65,114 | $32.38$67,577 | $33.69$70,311 | $35.05$73,149 | $36.24$75,633 |
| WG-9 | $32.85$68,558 | $34.37$71,730 | $35.59$74,276 | $36.96$77,136 | $38.41$80,162 |
| WG-10 | $34.71$72,440 | $36.18$75,508 | $37.63$78,534 | $39.11$81,623 | $40.55$84,628 |
| WG-11 | $36.49$76,155 | $38.11$79,536 | $39.64$82,729 | $41.15$85,880 | $42.63$88,969 |
| WG-12 | $38.35$80,036 | $39.97$83,417 | $41.60$86,819 | $43.14$90,033 | $44.74$93,372 |
| WG-13 | $40.16$83,814 | $41.74$87,111 | $43.52$90,826 | $45.27$94,478 | $46.83$97,734 |
| WG-14 | $41.95$87,550 | $43.72$91,244 | $45.44$94,833 | $47.20$98,506 | $49.00$102,263 |
| WG-15 | $43.78$91,369 | $45.62$95,209 | $47.37$98,861 | $49.25$102,785 | $51.06$106,562 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $20.35$42,470 | $21.19$44,224 | $22.04$45,997 | $22.89$47,771 | $23.74$49,545 |
| WL-2 | $21.37$44,599 | $22.26$46,457 | $23.14$48,293 | $24.04$50,171 | $24.93$52,029 |
| WL-3 | $22.40$46,749 | $23.33$48,690 | $24.27$50,651 | $25.19$52,572 | $26.12$54,512 |
| WL-4 | $24.45$51,027 | $25.45$53,114 | $26.45$55,201 | $27.50$57,393 | $28.49$59,459 |
| WL-5 | $26.92$56,182 | $28.01$58,457 | $29.15$60,836 | $30.27$63,173 | $31.40$65,532 |
| WL-6 | $29.41$61,379 | $30.63$63,925 | $31.84$66,450 | $33.04$68,954 | $34.31$71,605 |
| WL-7 | $31.88$66,534 | $33.21$69,309 | $34.55$72,106 | $35.84$74,798 | $37.19$77,616 |
| WL-8 | $34.37$71,730 | $35.74$74,589 | $37.13$77,490 | $38.59$80,537 | $39.99$83,459 |
| WL-9 | $36.20$75,549 | $37.73$78,743 | $39.15$81,706 | $40.77$85,087 | $42.29$88,259 |
| WL-10 | $38.21$79,744 | $39.79$83,042 | $41.33$86,256 | $42.99$89,720 | $44.55$92,976 |
| WL-11 | $40.18$83,856 | $41.90$87,445 | $43.55$90,889 | $45.31$94,562 | $46.88$97,839 |
| WL-12 | $42.12$87,904 | $43.91$91,640 | $45.71$95,397 | $47.37$98,861 | $49.17$102,618 |
| WL-13 | $44.16$92,162 | $46.06$96,127 | $47.86$99,884 | $49.70$103,724 | $51.53$107,543 |
| WL-14 | $46.19$96,399 | $48.08$100,343 | $50.05$104,454 | $51.94$108,399 | $53.89$112,468 |
| WL-15 | $48.20$100,593 | $50.15$104,663 | $52.26$109,067 | $54.19$113,095 | $56.24$117,373 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $29.06$60,648 | $30.27$63,173 | $31.49$65,720 | $32.70$68,245 | $33.90$70,749 |
| WS-2 | $29.98$62,568 | $31.24$65,198 | $32.49$67,807 | $33.73$70,395 | $34.99$73,024 |
| WS-3 | $30.90$64,488 | $32.20$67,201 | $33.48$69,873 | $34.77$72,565 | $36.06$75,257 |
| WS-4 | $32.93$68,725 | $34.31$71,605 | $35.59$74,276 | $37.00$77,219 | $38.35$80,036 |
| WS-5 | $35.15$73,358 | $36.65$76,489 | $38.10$79,515 | $39.59$82,624 | $41.02$85,609 |
| WS-6 | $37.43$78,116 | $38.99$81,372 | $40.55$84,628 | $42.08$87,821 | $43.61$91,014 |
| WS-7 | $39.68$82,812 | $41.33$86,256 | $42.98$89,699 | $44.62$93,122 | $46.26$96,545 |
| WS-8 | $41.67$86,965 | $43.29$90,346 | $44.98$93,873 | $46.83$97,734 | $48.51$101,240 |
| WS-9 | $43.34$90,451 | $45.16$94,249 | $47.00$98,089 | $48.79$101,825 | $50.57$105,540 |
| WS-10 | $45.21$94,353 | $47.05$98,193 | $48.91$102,075 | $50.76$105,936 | $52.68$109,943 |
| WS-11 | $46.27$96,565 | $48.21$100,614 | $50.12$104,600 | $52.11$108,754 | $54.01$112,719 |
| WS-12 | $47.75$99,654 | $49.71$103,745 | $51.76$108,023 | $53.69$112,051 | $55.75$116,350 |
| WS-13 | $49.24$102,764 | $51.29$107,042 | $53.36$111,362 | $55.40$115,620 | $57.44$119,877 |
| WS-14 | $50.66$105,727 | $52.75$110,089 | $54.87$114,514 | $56.99$118,938 | $59.06$123,258 |
| WS-15 | $52.27$109,087 | $54.43$113,595 | $56.62$118,166 | $58.75$122,611 | $60.96$127,224 |
| WS-16 | $54.08$112,865 | $56.34$117,582 | $58.56$122,215 | $60.82$126,931 | $63.06$131,606 |
| WS-17 | $56.14$117,164 | $58.47$122,027 | $60.80$126,890 | $63.14$131,773 | $65.45$136,594 |
| WS-18 | $58.38$121,839 | $60.82$126,931 | $63.24$131,982 | $65.64$136,991 | $68.14$142,208 |
| 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 027
District of Columbia, DC; Allegany County, MD; Anne Arundel County, MD; Baltimore city, MD; Baltimore County, MD; Calvert County, MD; Caroline County, MD; Carroll County, MD; Charles County, MD; Dorchester County, MD; Frederick County, MD; Harford County, MD; Howard County, MD; Kent County, MD; Montgomery County, MD; Prince George's County, MD; Queen Anne's County, MD; St. Mary's County, MD; Talbot County, MD; Washington County, MD; Adams County, PA (Only includes the Raven Rock Mountain Complex); Franklin County, PA; Fulton County, PA; Alexandria city, VA; Arlington County, VA; Caroline County, VA; Clarke County, VA; Culpeper County, VA; Fairfax City, VA; Fairfax County, VA; Falls Church city, VA; Fauquier County, VA; Frederick County, VA; Fredericksburg city, VA; King George County, VA; Loudoun County, VA; Madison County, VA; Manassas city, VA; Manassas Park city, VA; Orange County, VA; Prince William County, VA; Rappahannock County, VA; Shenandoah County, VA; Spotsylvania County, VA; Stafford County, VA; Warren County, VA; Westmoreland County, VA; Winchester city, VA; Berkeley County, WV; Hampshire County, WV; Hardy County, WV; Jefferson County, WV; Mineral County, WV; Morgan County, WV
Schedule 227: Rest of United States (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC)
Issued June 16, 2026, effective July 1, 2026, superseding the schedule issued December 23, 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.
* Rates for grade adjusted to comply with minimum wage for the District of Columbia
WG: nonsupervisory grades 1 to 15
| WG (nonsupervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WG-1 | $18.40* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$38,401 | $19.17* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$40,008 | $19.94* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$41,615 | $20.70* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$43,201 | $21.47* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$44,808 |
| WG-2 | $19.32$40,321 | $20.13* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$42,011 | $20.94* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$43,702 | $21.74* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$45,371 | $22.55* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$47,062 |
| WG-3 | $20.25* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$42,262 | $21.09* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$44,015 | $21.93* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$45,768 | $22.78* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$47,542 | $23.62* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$49,295 |
| WG-4 | $22.12$46,164 | $23.01$48,022 | $23.92$49,921 | $24.86$51,883 | $25.76$53,761 |
| WG-5 | $24.36$50,839 | $25.35$52,905 | $26.38$55,055 | $27.38$57,142 | $28.41$59,292 |
| WG-6 | $26.60$55,514 | $27.70$57,810 | $28.83$60,168 | $29.94$62,485 | $31.03$64,760 |
| WG-7 | $28.88$60,273 | $30.06$62,735 | $31.23$65,177 | $32.44$67,702 | $33.65$70,228 |
| WG-8 | $31.04$64,780 | $32.20$67,201 | $33.52$69,956 | $34.87$72,774 | $36.07$75,278 |
| WG-9 | $32.75$68,349 | $34.27$71,521 | $35.50$74,089 | $36.85$76,906 | $38.29$79,911 |
| WG-10 | $34.61$72,231 | $36.09$75,320 | $37.53$78,325 | $39.01$81,414 | $40.45$84,419 |
| WG-11 | $36.39$75,946 | $38.01$79,327 | $39.53$82,499 | $41.05$85,671 | $42.52$88,739 |
| WG-12 | $38.24$79,807 | $39.86$83,188 | $41.49$86,590 | $43.03$89,804 | $44.62$93,122 |
| WG-13 | $40.05$83,584 | $41.63$86,882 | $43.39$90,555 | $45.14$94,207 | $46.71$97,484 |
| WG-14 | $41.83$87,299 | $43.61$91,014 | $45.32$94,583 | $47.08$98,256 | $48.86$101,971 |
| WG-15 | $43.66$91,118 | $45.50$94,959 | $47.25$98,611 | $49.13$102,534 | $50.92$106,270 |
WL: leader grades 1 to 15
| WL (leader) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WL-1 | $20.25* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$42,262 | $21.09* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$44,015 | $21.93* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$45,768 | $22.78* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$47,542 | $23.62* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$49,295 |
| WL-2 | $21.25$44,349 | $22.14* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$46,206 | $23.03* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$48,064 | $23.91* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$49,900 | $24.80* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$51,758 |
| WL-3 | $22.27* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$46,477 | $23.20* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$48,418 | $24.13* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$50,359 | $25.06* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$52,300 | $25.98* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$54,220 |
| WL-4 | $24.31$50,735 | $25.29$52,780 | $26.29$54,867 | $27.33$57,038 | $28.31$59,083 |
| WL-5 | $26.77$55,869 | $27.87$58,165 | $28.99$60,502 | $30.11$62,840 | $31.22$65,156 |
| WL-6 | $29.24$61,024 | $30.48$63,612 | $31.68$66,116 | $32.87$68,600 | $34.14$71,250 |
| WL-7 | $31.72$66,200 | $33.04$68,954 | $34.38$71,751 | $35.66$74,422 | $37.01$77,240 |
| WL-8 | $34.19$71,355 | $35.56$74,214 | $36.95$77,115 | $38.41$80,162 | $39.79$83,042 |
| WL-9 | $36.11$75,362 | $37.62$78,513 | $39.04$81,476 | $40.66$84,857 | $42.18$88,030 |
| WL-10 | $38.10$79,515 | $39.68$82,812 | $41.22$86,026 | $42.87$89,470 | $44.42$92,705 |
| WL-11 | $40.07$83,626 | $41.78$87,195 | $43.42$90,618 | $45.19$94,312 | $46.76$97,588 |
| WL-12 | $42.01$87,675 | $43.79$91,390 | $45.59$95,146 | $47.25$98,611 | $49.04$102,346 |
| WL-13 | $44.05$91,932 | $45.93$95,856 | $47.74$99,633 | $49.58$103,473 | $51.39$107,251 |
| WL-14 | $46.07$96,148 | $47.95$100,072 | $49.92$104,183 | $51.81$108,127 | $53.75$112,176 |
| WL-15 | $48.08$100,343 | $50.03$104,413 | $52.12$108,774 | $54.05$112,802 | $56.11$117,102 |
WS: supervisory grades 1 to 19
| WS (supervisory) grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WS-1 | $29.29* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$61,128 | $30.51* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$63,674 | $31.73* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$66,221 | $32.95* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$68,767 | $34.17* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$71,313 |
| WS-2 | $30.21* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$63,048 | $31.47* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$65,678 | $32.73* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$68,308 | $33.99* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$70,937 | $35.25* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$73,567 |
| WS-3 | $31.13* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$64,968 | $32.43* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$67,681 | $33.73* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$70,395 | $35.02* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$73,087 | $36.32* (marked with an asterisk; see the footnote)$75,800 |
| WS-4 | $32.77$68,391 | $34.13$71,229 | $35.42$73,922 | $36.81$76,822 | $38.15$79,619 |
| WS-5 | $34.98$73,003 | $36.48$76,134 | $37.91$79,118 | $39.37$82,165 | $40.81$85,170 |
| WS-6 | $37.23$77,699 | $38.79$80,955 | $40.34$84,190 | $41.87$87,383 | $43.39$90,555 |
| WS-7 | $39.49$82,416 | $41.13$85,838 | $42.77$89,261 | $44.39$92,642 | $46.04$96,085 |
| WS-8 | $41.53$86,673 | $43.17$90,096 | $44.86$93,623 | $46.71$97,484 | $48.37$100,948 |
| WS-9 | $43.22$90,200 | $45.04$93,998 | $46.87$97,818 | $48.66$101,553 | $50.43$105,247 |
| WS-10 | $45.09$94,103 | $46.92$97,922 | $48.78$101,804 | $50.63$105,665 | $52.52$109,609 |
| WS-11 | $46.15$96,315 | $48.09$100,364 | $49.99$104,329 | $51.97$108,461 | $53.87$112,427 |
| WS-12 | $47.46$99,049 | $49.41$103,119 | $51.44$107,355 | $53.35$111,341 | $55.40$115,620 |
| WS-13 | $48.94$102,138 | $50.98$106,395 | $53.04$110,694 | $55.07$114,931 | $57.09$119,147 |
| WS-14 | $50.35$105,080 | $52.43$109,421 | $54.54$113,825 | $56.65$118,229 | $58.71$122,528 |
| WS-15 | $51.95$108,420 | $54.10$112,907 | $56.27$117,435 | $58.39$121,860 | $60.58$126,430 |
| WS-16 | $53.75$112,176 | $55.99$116,851 | $58.22$121,505 | $60.46$126,180 | $62.69$130,834 |
| WS-17 | $55.80$116,455 | $58.12$121,296 | $60.43$126,117 | $62.76$130,980 | $65.06$135,780 |
| WS-18 | $58.02$121,088 | $60.46$126,180 | $62.87$131,210 | $65.25$136,177 | $67.73$141,353 |
| 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 227
Garrett County, MD; Albemarle County, VA (Only includes the Shenandoah National Park portion); Augusta County, VA; Greene County, VA (Only includes the Shenandoah National Park portion); Harrisonburg city, VA; Page County, VA; Rockingham County, VA; Staunton city, VA; Waynesboro city, VA
Other wage areas in District of Columbia and Maryland and Pennsylvania and Virginia and West Virginia
- Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA WG-10 step 2 $33.11
- Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA WG-10 step 2 $29.45
- Buffalo, NY WG-10 step 2 $34.68
- New York-Newark, NY WG-10 step 2 $36.01
- Rochester, NY WG-10 step 2 $31.09
- Harrisburg-York-Lebanon, PA WG-10 step 2 $30.07
- Pittsburgh, PA WG-10 step 2 $33.03
- Scranton-Wilkes Barre, PA WG-10 step 2 $28.37
- Eastern Tennessee WG-10 step 2 $26.70
- Richmond, VA WG-10 step 2 $33.00
- Roanoke, VA WG-10 step 2 $28.31
- West Virginia WG-10 step 2 $32.23
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC WG pay questions
What is the WG-10 rate in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC?
Under schedule 027 (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, the schedule that covers this wage area's survey area), WG-10 is $34.71 at step 1, $36.18 at step 2 and $40.55 at step 5. At 2,087 hours a year, step 2 is about $75,508, an estimate. The other schedule is on this page.
When did the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC wage schedule take effect?
DCPAS issued schedule 027 on June 16, 2026 with an effective date of July 1, 2026. It replaced the schedule issued December 23, 2025. New schedules follow each local wage survey, so check DCPAS for a newer one.
Why does Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC have two schedules?
The wage area overlaps more than one General Schedule locality pay area, so DCPAS publishes one schedule for each: 027 (Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA); 227 (Rest of United States). This page leads with schedule 027, 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 Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC wage area cover?
DCPAS lists 54 counties or areas for schedule 027; 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)