The GS pay scale is the U.S. federal government’s General Schedule pay system. It has 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15), each with 10 steps. Salaries range from about $21,986 (GS-1, Step 1) to over $183,500 (GS-15, Step 10) in 2025, depending on grade, step, and location.
What Is the GS Pay Scale?
The General Schedule (GS) pay scale is the standardized pay structure for most federal civilian employees. It organizes jobs into 15 grades and 10 steps per grade, determining pay based on job responsibilities, qualifications, and experience.
- Grades range from GS-1 (entry-level clerical positions) to GS-15 (senior management and technical roles).
- The base pay is set by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and is adjusted annually.
- Federal agencies use the GS pay scale to determine compensation for general schedule employees, streamlining hiring and promotions.
GS employees are distinct from non federal workers, as their pay, benefits, and job classifications follow rules governed by federal personnel management systems.
How GS Grades and Steps Work
A GS grade represents the level of responsibility, while a step reflects the employee’s time in grade and performance.
- Each grade has 10 steps, with step increases typically granted every 1–3 years.
- For example, an employee in GS-5 Step 1 earns $34,454 in base pay in 2025. At Step 10, the same grade earns $44,786.
- A new GS employee typically starts at Step 1, but some may begin at higher steps based on prior experience or qualifications.
- Grade levels determine job duties, and each position listed in a job announcement includes a defined GS position level.
This pay structure ensures consistency across agencies and job types for the federal workforce.
2025 GS Pay Scale Table
This table shows the official GS base pay by grade and step for calendar year 2025.
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,360 | $23,110 | $23,853 | $24,594 | $25,336 | $25,770 | $26,506 | $27,247 | $27,277 | $27,970 |
| GS-2 | $25,142 | $25,740 | $26,573 | $27,277 | $27,583 | $28,394 | $29,205 | $30,016 | $30,827 | $31,638 |
| GS-3 | $27,434 | $28,348 | $29,262 | $30,176 | $31,090 | $32,004 | $32,918 | $33,832 | $34,746 | $35,660 |
| GS-4 | $30,795 | $31,822 | $32,849 | $33,876 | $34,903 | $35,930 | $36,957 | $37,984 | $39,011 | $40,038 |
| GS-5 | $34,454 | $35,602 | $36,750 | $37,898 | $39,046 | $40,194 | $41,342 | $42,490 | $43,638 | $44,786 |
| GS-6 | $38,407 | $39,687 | $40,967 | $42,247 | $43,527 | $44,807 | $46,087 | $47,367 | $48,647 | $49,927 |
| GS-7 | $42,679 | $44,102 | $45,525 | $46,948 | $48,371 | $49,794 | $51,217 | $52,640 | $54,063 | $55,486 |
| GS-8 | $47,265 | $48,841 | $50,417 | $51,993 | $53,569 | $55,145 | $56,721 | $58,297 | $59,873 | $61,449 |
| GS-9 | $52,205 | $53,945 | $55,685 | $57,425 | $59,165 | $60,905 | $62,645 | $64,385 | $66,125 | $67,865 |
| GS-10 | $57,489 | $59,405 | $61,321 | $63,237 | $65,153 | $67,069 | $68,985 | $70,901 | $72,817 | $74,733 |
| GS-11 | $63,163 | $65,268 | $67,373 | $69,478 | $71,583 | $73,688 | $75,793 | $77,898 | $80,003 | $82,108 |
| GS-12 | $75,706 | $78,230 | $80,754 | $83,278 | $85,802 | $88,326 | $90,850 | $93,374 | $95,898 | $98,422 |
| GS-13 | $90,025 | $93,026 | $96,027 | $99,028 | $102,029 | $105,030 | $108,031 | $111,032 | $114,033 | $117,034 |
| GS-14 | $106,382 | $109,928 | $113,474 | $117,020 | $120,566 | $124,112 | $127,658 | $131,204 | $134,750 | $138,296 |
| GS-15 | $125,133 | $129,304 | $133,475 | $137,646 | $141,817 | $145,988 | $150,159 | $154,330 | $158,501 | $162,672 |
This base pay reflects a 1.7% increase for 2025. Locality adjustments raise salaries by 10% to 30% or more based on geographic location.
How Locality Pay Works
Locality pay adjustments increase an employee’s salary based on the cost of living in specific areas.
- The Office of Personnel Management divides the U.S. into over 50 locality pay areas.
- For example, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and New York City are high-cost major metropolitan areas with locality rates exceeding 30%.
- A GS-11 Step 5 base pay is $71,583 in 2025. With a 30% locality adjustment, total salary becomes $93,058.
- Locality pay does not affect grade or step, but it directly impacts the employee’s salary.
Locality pay areas are updated based on population and economic changes.
How Promotions Work in the GS System
GS promotions increase grade level and result in higher pay, often including a step increase.
- Employees move up the career ladder through time-in-grade and performance evaluations.
- Promotion from GS-9 Step 5 ($59,165) to GS-11 Step 1 ($63,163) is common in two-grade jumps.
- When promoted, the pay scale rules guarantee the higher of: a two-step increase in the current grade, or the first step in the new grade above the current pay.
- Agencies apply highest previous rate rules for fairness across federal employees with prior service or transfers.
Promotions follow formal review processes and are posted in job announcements.
GS vs Other Federal Pay Systems
The GS system applies to most white-collar jobs, but not all federal positions.
- Wage Grade (WG) covers hourly blue-collar roles.
- Senior Executive Service (SES) applies to top policy and leadership jobs, with flexible pay structures.
- Agencies like the FAA and TSA use non federal pay systems that differ from the GS model.
- GS positions follow strict pay schedules and grade levels, while other systems offer broader pay bands.
Despite these differences, the General Schedule remains the most widely used system for federal civilian employees.
Where to Find GS Pay Information
The official source for GS pay data is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
- Visit OPM.gov for full pay schedules, locality pay adjustments, and updates.
- Tools like the GS pay calculator allow users to estimate salaries based on grade, step, and location.
- Federal jobs posted on USAJobs.gov include salary ranges tied to GS pay rates.
Always check the latest calendar year data before applying for or accepting a GS position.
Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
Check out the commonly asked questions about this topic.
Can you negotiate your GS step when accepting a federal job offer?
Yes. You can negotiate a higher step based on prior experience, superior qualifications, or competing offers. This must be requested and approved before the new GS employee starts work.
How does the GS pay scale impact promotions within the federal government?
Promotions increase GS grade and pay, typically using the “two-step” rule or the lowest step above current pay. Rules ensure fair compensation and consider prior service or pay from earlier GS positions.
What happens to your GS pay if you transfer to a lower cost-of-living area?
Base pay stays the same, but locality pay may decrease, lowering total compensation. Pay retention rules may apply in certain cases to protect wages temporarily.
Are there GS pay scale roles that allow for significant bonuses or additional compensation?
Yes. Some roles offer hiring or retention bonuses, especially in cybersecurity, healthcare, or STEM fields. These can add 10%–25% to the total salary, depending on agency policies.
Our Thoughts
The General Schedule system determines pay for over 1.5 million federal civilian employees across the U.S. It provides a transparent structure with clear pay rates, locality pay adjustments, and defined grade levels. Understanding this system helps applicants and employees track promotions, compare salaries, and assess total compensation by location.
For detailed, current salary estimates, visit OPM.gov or use the official GS pay calculator.
Need help finding your GS pay based on your location and job title?
Use the 2025 GS Pay Calculator on the Office of Personnel Management’s pay page.
