Federal Employee Salaries 2025
GS pay scale, locality pay, and how your grade affects pay
General Schedule Pay Grades
How Federal Pay Works
This guide breaks down how federal employee pay works in 2025, focusing on the General Schedule (GS) system that covers most white-collar civilian federal employees. If you're considering a federal career, already work for the government, or just want to understand how Uncle Sam compensates his workforce, this is your comprehensive overview.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes official pay tables each year, including base GS pay and locality-adjusted tables for different geographic areas. Federal pay combines a base salary (determined by grade and step) with locality pay (a percentage increase based on where you work).
The 2025 pay levels include a general increase over 2024 plus locality adjustments. This article is an educational overview drawing from official sources—for official calculations, always refer to OPM's published tables. For context on how federal pay compares to the broader economy, see our guide to average salary in the US.
General Schedule (GS) Basics: Grades and Steps
The General Schedule is the primary pay system for federal white-collar employees, covering approximately 1.5 million workers. Understanding grades and steps is essential to understanding federal pay.
Grades (GS-1 to GS-15)
The GS system has 15 grades, numbered GS-1 through GS-15. Grade reflects job complexity, responsibility level, and required qualifications. Higher grades mean more demanding work and higher pay. GS-1 through GS-4 are typically clerical or assistant positions. GS-5 through GS-7 are entry-level professional positions. GS-9 through GS-12 are journey-level professional positions. GS-13 through GS-15 are senior professional and supervisory positions.
Steps (1 to 10)
Within each grade, there are 10 steps. Step reflects longevity and satisfactory performance within that grade. New employees typically start at Step 1, though agencies can offer higher starting steps for candidates with exceptional qualifications or to match private sector offers. Advancement from Step 1 to Step 4 occurs after 1 year at each step. From Step 4 to Step 7, advancement takes 2 years per step. From Step 7 to Step 10, advancement takes 3 years per step.
Promotions vs. Step Increases
Moving up steps raises your pay within the same grade—this happens based on time in grade and satisfactory performance. Promotions move you to higher grades, typically requiring applying for and being selected for a higher-graded position. Career ladder positions allow promotion without competition, often GS-5/7/9 or GS-9/11/12 progressions.
2025 GS Base Pay Table
The following table shows approximate 2025 GS base pay rates (before locality adjustment). These figures represent the nationwide base—actual pay in most locations will be higher after locality pay is applied.
| GS Grade | Step 1 (Base) | Step 10 (Base) |
|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | ~$21,000 | ~$26,000 |
| GS-3 | ~$26,000 | ~$33,000 |
| GS-5 | ~$35,000 | ~$46,000 |
| GS-7 | ~$44,000 | ~$57,000 |
| GS-9 | ~$54,000 | ~$70,000 |
| GS-11 | ~$65,000 | ~$84,000 |
| GS-12 | ~$77,000 | ~$100,000 |
| GS-13 | ~$92,000 | ~$119,000 |
| GS-14 | ~$109,000 | ~$141,000 |
| GS-15 | ~$128,000 | ~$166,000 |
2025 Pay Raise
For 2025, federal employees received a general GS increase of approximately 1.7% over 2024 rates, plus adjustments to locality pay percentages. The combined effect varies by location, with total increases typically ranging from 1.7% to 2%+ depending on the locality area. This continues a pattern of modest annual increases designed to keep federal pay competitive with the private sector.
Locality Pay: How Location Changes Your Paycheck
Locality pay is added to GS base salary to account for cost-of-labor differences across the country. It can significantly increase your actual pay compared to the base table.
How Locality Pay Works
OPM designates approximately 50+ locality pay areas, each with its own percentage adjustment. Your locality percentage is applied to your base GS salary to calculate your actual pay. For example, if your base GS-12 Step 1 salary is $77,000 and your locality percentage is 30%, your actual salary would be approximately $100,000 ($77,000 Ă— 1.30).
Major Locality Areas (2025 Approximate Percentages)
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington: ~33% locality adjustment—one of the highest, reflecting the concentration of federal jobs and high cost of living in the DC metro area.
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose: ~45%+ locality adjustment—the highest in the country, reflecting Bay Area labor costs.
New York-Newark: ~36% locality adjustment.
Los Angeles-Long Beach: ~34% locality adjustment.
Rest of United States: ~17% locality adjustment—applies to areas not covered by a specific locality designation.
Impact on Actual Pay
Locality pay dramatically affects federal compensation. A GS-13 Step 5 employee earns approximately $105,000 in base pay, but in the DC area, that becomes approximately $140,000 with locality pay. In San Francisco, the same position could exceed $150,000. Even in "Rest of U.S." areas, the 17% adjustment adds roughly $18,000 to that GS-13 salary.
Other Federal Pay Systems
While the GS system covers most white-collar federal employees, several other pay systems exist:
Federal Wage System (FWS)
The Federal Wage System covers blue-collar federal employees—mechanics, electricians, maintenance workers, and similar trades. FWS pay is based on local prevailing wages for comparable private-sector work, varying significantly by location and trade. Positions are classified by grade (WG, WL, or WS) rather than GS levels.
Special Pay Systems
Certain agencies have their own pay systems with different structures:
Defense Civilian Intelligence Personnel System (DCIPS): Covers intelligence positions within the Department of Defense with pay bands rather than grades.
Financial Regulatory Agencies: The Federal Reserve, FDIC, OCC, and similar agencies often have separate pay scales that can significantly exceed GS rates to compete with private-sector financial institutions.
Senior Executive Service (SES): Senior leadership positions above GS-15, with pay rates set by agency and performance.
Special Rate Tables
Even within the GS system, certain occupations have "special rate" tables that provide higher pay than standard GS rates. This commonly applies to IT specialists, engineers, and certain medical/scientific positions where federal agencies struggle to compete with private sector salaries.
How Federal Pay Raises Work
Federal pay adjustments follow a specific annual process:
The Annual Adjustment Process
Each year, the President proposes a federal pay raise as part of the budget process. Congress may accept, modify, or reject the proposal. If Congress doesn't act, the President's proposal typically takes effect. OPM then issues final pay tables incorporating the general increase and any locality adjustments.
Components of Annual Raises
General Schedule Increase: A percentage increase applied to all GS base pay rates nationwide. For 2025, this was approximately 1.7%.
Locality Pay Adjustments: Additional adjustments to locality percentages in specific areas, intended to close the gap between federal and private-sector pay in each locality.
Within-Grade Increases (WGIs)
Beyond annual pay raises, federal employees advance through steps based on time in grade and satisfactory performance. These within-grade increases provide approximately 3% pay bumps at each step, adding to the annual adjustment.
Career Progression
The most significant pay growth comes from promotions to higher grades. A promotion from GS-11 to GS-12 or GS-12 to GS-13 typically provides a 10–15% pay increase, far exceeding annual adjustments.
Where Common Federal Jobs Fall on the GS Scale
Different positions are classified at different grade levels based on job complexity, required qualifications, and responsibility. Here are typical ranges for common federal occupations:
Entry-Level Professional Positions (GS-5 to GS-7)
Many professional positions with bachelor's degree requirements start at GS-5 or GS-7. Examples include: entry-level program analysts, human resources assistants, contract specialists (trainee), and administrative officers (entry). With a master's degree or superior academic achievement, candidates may qualify for GS-9 entry.
Journey-Level Professionals (GS-9 to GS-12)
After several years of experience, most professional series settle into the GS-9 to GS-12 range. Examples include: management analysts (GS-9 to GS-13), IT specialists (GS-9 to GS-13), human resources specialists (GS-9 to GS-12), budget analysts (GS-9 to GS-13), and contract specialists (GS-11 to GS-13). GS-12 is often considered the "full performance" level for many professional series.
Senior Professionals and Supervisors (GS-13 to GS-15)
Senior technical experts, team leads, and supervisors typically occupy GS-13 to GS-15 positions. Examples include: senior program managers (GS-13 to GS-15), branch chiefs (GS-14 to GS-15), senior engineers and scientists (GS-13 to GS-15), senior attorneys (GS-14 to GS-15), and division directors (GS-15). At these levels, salaries with locality pay often exceed $100,000—for more on six-figure careers, see jobs that pay $100K.
How to Read a GS Table and Estimate Your Pay
Calculating your federal salary involves a few simple steps:
Step 1: Identify Your Grade and Step
Find your position's grade (GS-1 through GS-15) from the job announcement or your SF-50 (Notification of Personnel Action). Determine your step (1 through 10) based on when you entered the grade.
Step 2: Find Your Locality Area
Determine which locality pay area covers your duty station. OPM publishes a locality pay area definitions document. If your location isn't specifically named, you're likely in the "Rest of United States" area.
Step 3: Look Up Your Adjusted Salary
Find the locality pay table for your area on OPM's website. Look up the intersection of your grade and step to find your annual salary with locality pay included.
Quick Calculation Method
If you know your base salary and locality percentage: Actual Salary = Base Salary Ă— (1 + Locality Percentage). For example: GS-12 Step 5 base (~$89,000) in DC (~33% locality) = $89,000 Ă— 1.33 = ~$118,000.
Important Reminders
Always verify with official OPM tables—this guide provides approximations for educational purposes. Pay tables are updated each January. Special rate tables apply to certain occupations and may provide higher pay than standard locality tables.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GS pay scale for 2025?
The 2025 GS pay scale includes 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) with 10 steps each. Base pay ranges from approximately $21,000 (GS-1, Step 1) to $166,000 (GS-15, Step 10). Locality pay increases these amounts by 17–45%+ depending on location, so actual salaries are higher than base rates in nearly all areas.
How much was the federal pay raise for 2025?
Federal employees received a general GS increase of approximately 1.7% for 2025, plus adjustments to some locality percentages. The combined effect varies by location, with total increases typically ranging from 1.7% to 2%+ depending on the locality area.
What is locality pay and how is it calculated?
Locality pay is an additional percentage added to base GS salary based on where you work. It's designed to make federal pay competitive with private-sector wages in each area. Percentages range from approximately 17% ("Rest of U.S.") to 45%+ (San Francisco Bay Area). Your locality-adjusted salary = base salary Ă— (1 + locality percentage).
How do grades and steps affect my salary?
Grades determine your base pay level based on job complexity—higher grades mean higher pay. Steps provide incremental increases within each grade based on time and performance. Moving from Step 1 to Step 10 increases pay by approximately 30% within the same grade. Promotions to higher grades provide larger increases (typically 10–15% per grade).
Are all federal employees paid on the GS scale?
No. While the GS system covers most white-collar civilian federal employees (~1.5 million workers), other pay systems exist. Blue-collar workers are covered by the Federal Wage System. Certain agencies (Federal Reserve, financial regulators, intelligence agencies) have separate pay structures. Senior executives are in the Senior Executive Service with different pay rules.