Inputs you will enter
- GradeGS-1 to GS-15.
- Step1 to 10.
- Locality pay areaYour official duty station's area, or Rest of U.S.
- Date of last step increaseOptional, for the next-step date.
How we compute it
We read the base annual rate for your grade and step from OPM's 2026 GS table, which incorporates a 1 percent general increase (OPM, retrieved 2026-07-05). We multiply it by 1 plus your area's locality percentage. If the result is above the legal cap for General Schedule pay, we show the capped figure and say so. Hourly pay comes from the same OPM table.
The full grid by grade and step, with every locality area's percentage, is on our GS pay scale page.
A worked example
Suppose your base rate is $80,000 and your locality area's rate is 30 percent. Locality pay is $80,000 x 30% = $24,000, so your annual pay is $104,000. Real figures for your grade, step and area come straight from the OPM table in the tool. Educational estimate on the assumptions shown.
What to do with your result
Use your pay in the FERS pension estimator as a high-3 starting point, or in the annual leave lump sum calculator. The pay guide explains raises, steps and locality in plain language.
Planning a last promotion or step before retiring to raise your high-3?
FFEBA is an education organization. If you want someone to look at your own numbers, we can match you with a Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC), a professional trained on federal benefits. The FRC designation is listed with FINRA. The first review is free, nothing is booked until you choose a time, and you are never obligated to work with anyone we introduce. Get matched with an FRC.
Questions about this calculator
How is GS locality pay calculated?
Locality pay is your base GS rate multiplied by your locality pay area's percentage, added to the base. A base salary of $80,000 in an area with a 30 percent locality rate pays $104,000. Total pay is capped by law at the top of the scale.
How much was the 2026 federal pay raise?
The 2026 GS tables incorporate a 1 percent general increase (OPM, retrieved 2026-07-05). Our pay guide tracks the 2027 raise as it moves through the budget process.
How long does it take to move up a GS step?
Steps 1 to 4 come after 52 weeks each, steps 4 to 7 after 104 weeks each, and steps 7 to 10 after 156 weeks each, assuming acceptable performance.
Which locality pay area am I in?
Your locality is set by your official duty station, not where you live. Pick your duty station's area in the tool; anywhere not in a named area falls under Rest of U.S.
Reviewed by the FFEBA education team. Last reviewed October 2026.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 GS base table and locality tables (XML), retrieved 2026-07-05
Every government figure on this page carries its source and retrieval date. Worked examples are educational estimates on the assumptions shown, not a projection of any person's benefit. FFEBA is an education organization, not a financial advisor.
