State of Federal Pay 2026: 50 Data Points for Every Fed
Federal employees in San Jose-SF earn 46.34% above base in 2026, the highest of 58 localities. Full data report with 50+ sourced statistics on GS pay.
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Federal employees in San Jose-San Francisco earn 46.34% above base pay in 2026, the highest of all 58 locality pay areas. A GS-13 Step 5 in that region earns $150,775 total salary. The same grade, same step, same job in the Rest of U.S. earns $120,718. That is a $30,057 annual pay gap solely driven by zip code.
This is the FedTools State of Federal Pay 2026 data report. Every statistic below is sourced. If you are a journalist, federal employee, or blogger citing 2026 pay data, this page is designed to be your reference.
Key Takeaways
- 2026 GS base pay raise: 1.0% across the board, effective January 11, 2026. Locality rates carried over from 2025 for most areas.
- Top locality: San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland at 46.34%. Bottom: Rest of U.S. at 17.06%.
- The pay cap ($197,200) compresses pay for GS-15 employees in at least 11 localities. In SF, a GS-15 Step 10 loses $43,158/year to the cap.
- Federal-private pay gap: 24.72% (Federal Salary Council, 2024). FEPCA was supposed to close this to 5%. It has not been fully implemented in 31 years.
- Step 1 to Step 10: minimum 18 years of acceptable performance.
- The promotion paradox in capped localities: A GS-14 Step 10 in SF earns $12,240 MORE than a newly-promoted GS-15 Step 1 in the same city.
- 2027 outlook: FAIR Act proposes 4.1%. White House FY2027 budget calls for a pay freeze. Most likely outcome: 0-1%.
Top 10 Federal Pay Statistics 2026
Each of these is pre-formatted for press pitches, Reddit, and AI Overview citation.
- San Jose-SF locality pay rate: 46.34% in 2026, the highest of 58 areas. GS-13 Step 5 total = $150,775 vs. $120,718 in Rest of U.S. (Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-SF)
- Federal-private pay gap: 24.72% (Federal Salary Council, 2024). Closing to the 5% statutory target would require a 49.11% locality raise. 2026 locality adjustment: 0%.
- Pay cap compression at GS-15 Step 10 in San Jose: $43,158/year lost to the $197,200 cap. That is more than an entire GS-3 Step 1 annual salary. (FedTools 2026 analysis; OPM)
- 2026 federal pay raise of 1% is tied for third-lowest in 17 years, matching 2017 and 2021. Less than half of 2025 (1.7%) and less than a quarter of 2024 (4.7%). (GeneralSchedule.org)
- 10-year purchasing power loss: ~11-12 percentage points. Cumulative GS base pay rose about 20.5% from 2017 to 2026 while CPI-U rose roughly 32%. (FedTools 2026 analysis using GeneralSchedule.org + BLS data)
- FEPCA has not been fully implemented since 1994, its first year. Every president since has submitted an alternative pay plan overriding the formula. The 2026 FEPCA raise would have been 3.3% base plus 18.88% average locality. (AFGE; Federal Register)
- 10-year accumulated FEPCA gap for a DC GS-13 Step 5: ~$257,000 in foregone salary vs. what FEPCA would have required since 2017. (FedTools 2026 analysis)
- Step 1 to Step 10 takes 18 years of acceptable performance with no promotion. Steps 7-10 alone take 9 years and produce only $9,093 in additional base pay at GS-13. (5 CFR 531.405)
- The promotion paradox in SF: A GS-14 Step 10 (capped at $197,200) earns $12,240 MORE than a newly-promoted GS-15 Step 1 ($184,960). A GS-15 promotion can be a temporary pay cut. (FedTools 2026 analysis)
- 2027 gap between parties: 4.1 percentage points. FAIR Act (H.R. 7480) proposes 4.1% raise. White House FY2027 budget proposes a freeze. (Federal News Network, Feb & April 2026)
Methodology
This report aggregates 2026 federal pay data from primary government sources (OPM Salary Tables, CBO, BLS, Federal Salary Council, Federal Register) and congressional filings, supplemented with original FedTools calculations where useful.
Three ground rules apply:
- Every stat has a source URL and cites a specific document or table. Rates quoted are from the official 2026 Salary Tables published by OPM.
- Original FedTools calculations are labeled. The FEPCA gap example, the pay cap compression losses, the promotion paradox, and the 10-year real-wage erosion are all tagged as "FedTools 2026 analysis" with methodology shown so readers can reproduce them.
- Locality rates in this report reflect OPM's 2026 tables. FedTools.com's own GS pay calculator was updated on April 17, 2026 to correct 10 locality percentages (SF, NY, LA, Houston, SD, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver) that had drifted from OPM's published values. If you run our GS pay calculator now, the numbers match what you see here.
2026 GS Base Pay Table
Base pay anchors for each grade, 2026 effective January 11. Locality is added on top.
| Grade | Step 1 Base | Step 5 Base | Step 10 Base | Step 1 to 10 Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $25,589 | $28,248 | $5,664 (25.1%) |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $31,404 | $36,024 | $8,316 (30.0%) |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $39,439 | $45,239 | $10,440 (30.0%) |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $48,854 | $56,039 | $12,933 (30.0%) |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $59,759 | $68,549 | $15,822 (30.0%) |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $72,303 | $82,938 | $19,143 (30.0%) |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $86,659 | $99,404 | $22,941 (30.0%) |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $103,049 | $118,204 | $27,279 (30.0%) |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $121,774 | $139,684 | $32,238 (30.0%) |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $143,236 | $164,301 | $37,917 (30.0%) |
Source: OPM 2026 GS Base Pay Table, effective January 11, 2026. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule
10-Year Federal Pay Raise History
| Year | Across-the-Board Raise | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1.0% | |
| 2018 | 1.4% | |
| 2019 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 2.6% | Largest raise of first Trump term |
| 2021 | 1.0% | COVID-era budget pressure |
| 2022 | 2.2% | Partial inflation response |
| 2023 | 4.1% | Inflation response |
| 2024 | 4.7% | Largest raise since 1980 |
| 2025 | 1.7% | |
| 2026 | 1.0% | Locality frozen |
Source: GeneralSchedule.org raise history, https://www.generalschedule.org/raise
FedTools 2026 analysis: The 10-year cumulative compound base-pay raise from 2017 through 2026 is approximately 20.5%. Over the same decade, the CPI-U increased approximately 32%. That implies federal employees experienced a real purchasing power decline of roughly 11 to 12 percentage points in base pay alone over ten years. FEHB and FERS pension value partly offset this, but the base-pay gap is real and cumulative.
Locality Pay in 2026: All 58 Areas Ranked
Locality is the biggest single driver of variation in federal pay. Your grade and step determine base pay. Where you live determines what gets added on top.
Top 20 Locality Pay Areas (2026)
| Rank | Locality Area | 2026 Rate | GS-13 Step 5 Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 46.34% | $150,775 |
| 2 | New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | $142,163 |
| 3 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | $140,633 |
| 4 | Houston-The Woodlands, TX | 35.00% | $139,116 |
| 5 | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | $138,026 |
| 6 | San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 33.72% | $137,800 |
| 7 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 32.58% | $136,624 |
| 8 | Alaska (statewide) | 32.36% | $136,397 |
| 9 | Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 31.57% | $135,583 |
| 10 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 30.86% | $134,851 |
| 11 | Denver-Aurora, CO | 30.52% | $134,500 |
| 12 | Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 29.76% | $133,717 |
| 13 | Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 29.12% | $133,057 |
| 14 | Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 28.99% | $132,924 |
| 15 | Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 27.62% | $131,513 |
| 16 | Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 27.26% | $131,142 |
| 17 | Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 26.13% | $129,986 |
| 18 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 24.67% | $128,482 |
| 19 | Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 23.79% | $127,574 |
| 20 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 22.41% | $126,150 |
Source: OPM 2026 General Schedule Locality Pay Tables; GeneralSchedule.org locality list. GS-13 Step 5 total calculated as $103,049 × (1 + rate).
The Floor: Rest of U.S.
At the bottom of the locality chart is Rest of U.S. at 17.06%, unchanged from 2025. It is where every federal employee outside a designated locality area lands, including most rural postings.
A GS-13 Step 5 in Rest of U.S. earns $120,718. The same employee in San Jose-SF earns $150,775. That is the full $30,057 locality gap between the top and the floor.
Two New Locality Areas Were Blocked in 2026
Two areas were recommended by the Federal Salary Council for new standalone locality status in 2026. Both were blocked when the President's alternative pay plan zeroed out locality adjustments.
- Syracuse, NY (recommended to move above Rest of U.S. floor)
- Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, WA (recommended for new standalone locality)
Employees in those areas remain at 17.06%. Source: Federal Salary Council Working Group Report, November 2024; FEBAbenefits.org.
GS Step Velocity: 18 Years to Reach Step 10
Within-grade step increases are automatic on a statutory schedule. The pace slows dramatically toward the end of each grade.
| Step Transition | Waiting Period | Calendar Time |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 → Step 2 | 52 weeks | 1 year |
| Step 2 → Step 3 | 52 weeks | 1 year |
| Step 3 → Step 4 | 52 weeks | 1 year |
| Step 4 → Step 5 | 104 weeks | 2 years |
| Step 5 → Step 6 | 104 weeks | 2 years |
| Step 6 → Step 7 | 104 weeks | 2 years |
| Step 7 → Step 8 | 156 weeks | 3 years |
| Step 8 → Step 9 | 156 weeks | 3 years |
| Step 9 → Step 10 | 156 weeks | 3 years |
| Total Step 1 → 10 | 936 weeks | 18 years |
Source: 5 CFR 531.405; OPM Within-Grade Increase Fact Sheet.
What Each Step Is Actually Worth (GS-13 Example)
| Step | Base Pay | Dollar Lift vs. Step 1 | Approx. Year Reached |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $90,925 | — | Entry |
| 2 | $93,956 | +$3,031 | Year 1 |
| 3 | $96,987 | +$6,062 | Year 2 |
| 4 | $100,018 | +$9,093 | Year 3 |
| 5 | $103,049 | +$12,124 | Year 5 |
| 6 | $106,080 | +$15,155 | Year 7 |
| 7 | $109,111 | +$18,186 | Year 9 |
| 8 | $112,142 | +$21,217 | Year 12 |
| 9 | $115,173 | +$24,248 | Year 15 |
| 10 | $118,204 | +$27,279 | Year 18 |
Source: FedTools 2026 analysis using OPM 2026 GS base pay table.
FedTools 2026 analysis: The effective annual value of a step increase falls by 67% as a GS-13 employee moves from early career to senior career. Steps 1-4 deliver about $3,031 in base pay per year of wait time. Steps 7-10 deliver about $1,010 per year of wait time. The final nine years of the step journey produce only $9,093 in total additional base pay, less than what Steps 1-4 produce in the first three years.
The $197,200 Pay Cap: Where Compression Hits
The statutory cap on total GS pay (base plus locality) sits at $197,200 in 2026, equal to Executive Schedule Level IV. Any GS employee whose grade-plus-locality total would exceed that amount has their pay capped there.
Where GS-15 Hits the Cap
| Locality | Rate | GS-15 Step 1 | GS-15 Step 10 Uncapped | Cap Kicks In |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-SF, CA | 46.34% | $184,960 | $240,358 | Step 4+ |
| New York, NY | 37.95% | $174,347 | $226,616 | Step 5+ |
| Los Angeles, CA | 36.47% | $172,476 | $224,121 | Step 5+ |
| Houston, TX | 35.00% | $170,618 | $221,806 | Step 5+ |
| DC (DCB) | 33.94% | $169,278 | $220,065 | Step 6+ |
| San Diego, CA | 33.72% | $169,000 | $219,776 | Step 6+ |
| Boston, MA | 32.58% | $167,558 | $217,877 | Step 7+ |
| Seattle, WA | 31.57% | $166,282 | $216,247 | Step 8+ |
| Chicago, IL | 30.86% | $165,394 | $215,100 | Step 9+ |
| Denver, CO | 30.52% | $164,964 | $214,541 | Step 9+ |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $148,001 | $192,331 | Never capped |
Source: FedTools 2026 analysis; OPM 2026 GS base table and locality percentages. Cap = Executive Schedule Level IV, 5 U.S.C. 5308.
Annual Pay Lost to the Cap at GS-15 Step 10
| Locality | Uncapped Salary | Actual (Capped) | Compression Loss |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-SF, CA | $240,358 | $197,200 | $43,158 |
| New York, NY | $226,616 | $197,200 | $29,416 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $224,121 | $197,200 | $26,921 |
| Houston, TX | $221,806 | $197,200 | $24,606 |
| DC (DCB) | $220,065 | $197,200 | $22,865 |
| San Diego, CA | $219,776 | $197,200 | $22,576 |
Source: FedTools 2026 analysis.
A GS-15 Step 10 employee in San Jose loses $43,158/year to the cap. That is more than an entire GS-3 Step 1 salary ($27,708). The five step increases from Step 6 through Step 10 in DC all pay the same $197,200, which means half a decade of within-grade advancement produces zero dollar gain.
The Promotion Paradox
FedTools 2026 analysis: In San Jose-SF in 2026, a GS-14 Step 10 employee (whose uncapped salary is $204,389 but capped to $197,200) earns $12,240 more per year than a newly-promoted GS-15 Step 1 employee in the same locality ($184,960). A promotion that should move someone up a grade produces a temporary pay cut. This reverses the core incentive structure of the GS pay system and is a downstream consequence of a cap that has not kept pace with locality pay growth.
This is what FEPCA's 1990 design was supposed to prevent. Without regular locality adjustments and periodic cap increases to match, the system inverts itself in the highest-cost metros.
FEPCA: The 31-Year Gap
What FEPCA Requires
The Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (5 U.S.C. 5302 et seq.) set a statutory target: federal pay should be within 5% of comparable private-sector pay. The mechanism is an annual formula that splits raises between across-the-board base increases and locality adjustments.
The law includes an escape hatch: the President may submit an "alternative pay plan" to Congress if the full formula is considered unaffordable. Every president since 1994 has used the override, every single year.
What FEPCA Required for 2026
Source: AFGE.org citing OPM and Federal Salary Council data; Federal News Network November 2024.
- Across-the-board base raise required: 3.3%
- Average locality pay adjustment required: 18.88%
- Combined FEPCA-formula raise (weighted): approximately 22.18%
- Actual 2026 raise: 1.0% base, 0% locality change
- Gap between formula and actual: approximately 21 percentage points
What Closing the Gap Would Require
According to the Federal Salary Council Working Group Report (November 2024), to narrow the federal-private pay gap from its measured 24.72% down to the 5% statutory target would require an average locality raise of 49.11%. The 2026 locality adjustment was 0%.
10-Year FedTools FEPCA Gap Calculation
FedTools 2026 analysis: For a GS-13 Step 5 employee in the DC area (33.94% locality) who entered federal service in 2017 and has remained at Step 5, the cumulative foregone salary from a decade of alternative pay plan overrides is approximately $257,000. That is the compounding cost of FEPCA non-implementation for a single employee.
Methodology: Compared actual GS-13 Step 5 DC salary by year (2017 through 2026) against a hypothetical FEPCA-target salary where the measured pay gap was narrowed 5% per year per the statutory intent. Year-by-year table in the research file at knowledge/research/2026-04-17-state-of-federal-pay-2026.md. This is directional, not precise. Full FEPCA implementation would have compounded the base differently. Other researchers are welcome to recompute with their own methodology.
Why the Gap Persists
- Cost: Full FEPCA implementation in 2026 would cost approximately $24 billion in the first year alone, per OPM estimates.
- Political: No Congress since 1994 has funded full FEPCA implementation.
- Measurement dispute: OPM uses BLS Employment Cost Index comparisons (salary only). CBO uses broader total-compensation comparisons that include federal benefits (which are typically 43% higher than private-sector benefits). These two measures produce different numbers about the "gap." Both can be true at once because they measure different things.
Sources: GAO-22-104580; GAO-25-107788; CBO Publication 59970.
How Federal Pay Compares to the Private Sector
CBO's most recent compensation comparison (2024 report using 2022 data) breaks the picture down by education level, which turns out to matter a lot.
| Education Level | Federal Wages vs. Private | Federal Benefits vs. Private | Total Comp vs. Private |
|---|---|---|---|
| High school diploma | +11% | +67% | +40% |
| Some college | +6% | +55% | +25% |
| Bachelor's degree | -4% | +25% | +5% |
| Advanced or professional degree | -24% | +12% | -22% |
| All education levels combined | +2% | +43% | +5% |
Source: CBO, "Comparing the Compensation of Federal and Private-Sector Employees in 2022," Publication 59970, April 2024. https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59970
The pattern is consistent across CBO reports going back a decade: federal employees with lower education credentials earn more total compensation than comparable private-sector peers (driven by stronger benefits), while federal employees with advanced degrees are paid substantially less. This is why federal agencies in science, law, medicine, and technology struggle to recruit and retain senior talent.
Executive Schedule and Senior Pay Rates 2026
| Level | 2026 Annual Rate | Key Positions |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $253,100 | Cabinet Secretaries (State, Defense, AG, etc.), 21 positions |
| Level II | $228,000 | Deputy Secretaries, heads of major independent agencies |
| Level III | $209,600 | Under Secretaries, mid-size agency administrators |
| Level IV | $197,200 | The GS pay cap; Assistant Secretaries and senior agency officials |
| Level V | $184,900 | Associate/Deputy Under Secretaries |
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-EX, https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/executive-senior-level
Senior Executive Service (SES) 2026:
- SES minimum (120% of GS-15 Step 1): $151,661
- SES maximum (Executive Schedule Level III): $209,600
- Agencies with certified SES performance appraisal systems may pay up to Level II ($228,000)
Special Pay Categories 2026
| Category | 2026 Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Federal law enforcement (LEO) | 3.8% raise (separate from 1% GS raise) | GovExec, January 2026 |
| Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) | 25% of basic pay (statutory) | OPM Availability Pay Fact Sheet |
| Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA), <24 months service | Up to $14,000/year | OPM PCA Fact Sheet |
| Physicians Comparability Allowance (PCA), 24+ months service | Up to $30,000/year | OPM PCA Fact Sheet |
| Air Traffic Controllers | ATSPP separate schedule (outside GS) | FAA |
| Critical Position Pay | Up to EX Level II ($228,000) with OPM + OMB approval | 5 U.S.C. 5377 |
| Retention incentives | Up to 25% of basic pay annually | OPM Retention Incentive guidance |
A GS-13 Step 5 criminal investigator in the DC area receives $138,026 base-plus-locality, $34,507 LEAP (25%), for a total of $172,533, all subject to the $197,200 overall cap.
2027 Pay Outlook
| Scenario | Raise | Probability |
|---|---|---|
| White House alternative pay plan (status quo) | 0-1% | High |
| Congressional negotiated compromise | 1-2% | Moderate |
| FAIR Act as introduced | 4.1% | Low |
| Full FEPCA formula | ~22% | Effectively zero |
The FAIR Act (H.R. 7480): Introduced February 10, 2026 by Rep. James Walkinshaw (D-VA) with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) as Senate sponsor. Proposes 4.1% for 2027 (3.1% base plus 1.0% average locality). 19 House cosponsors (18 Democrats, 1 Republican). Referred to House Oversight; no floor vote scheduled. Given no Republican majority support, passage is low probability.
White House FY2027 budget: Released April 2026. Does not include a civilian GS pay raise. Maintains differentiated treatment for federal law enforcement. Source: Federal News Network, "White House budget proposal silent on civilian federal pay raise," April 2026.
Federal employees should plan for another 0-1% year for 2027. The FAIR Act is a Democratic negotiating position in the 119th Congress, not a likely legislative outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 federal pay raise? The 2026 across-the-board GS base pay raise is 1.0%, effective January 11, 2026. Locality pay percentages stayed at their 2025 levels for most areas. Federal law enforcement officers received a separate 3.8% raise. (Federal Register, January 2026 Pay Schedules)
Which locality pays federal employees the most in 2026? San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA at 46.34%. A GS-13 Step 5 there earns $150,775 total, vs. $120,718 in Rest of U.S., a $30,057 gap for identical grade, step, and job.
How many federal employees hit the $197,200 pay cap? The cap primarily affects GS-15 employees in at least 11 localities and GS-14 employees in the highest-cost areas (San Jose hits the cap at Step 9 for GS-14). In San Jose, a GS-15 Step 10's uncapped salary would be $240,358, costing $43,158/year to the cap.
What would federal pay raises be under the FEPCA formula? FEPCA required a 3.3% across-the-board raise plus an average 18.88% locality adjustment for 2026. Federal employees received 1.0% and 0% respectively. FEPCA has not been fully implemented in any of its 31 years on the books.
How long does it take to go from Step 1 to Step 10 in the GS system? A minimum of 18 years of acceptable performance with no promotion. Steps 1-3 require 52 weeks each, Steps 4-6 require 104 weeks each, Steps 7-9 require 156 weeks each. (5 CFR 531.405)
Does a promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 always mean more pay? Not in the highest-cost localities. In San Jose-SF, a GS-14 Step 10 (capped at $197,200) earns $12,240 more than a newly-promoted GS-15 Step 1 ($184,960). Capped localities can produce a temporary promotion pay cut.
Will there be a federal pay raise in 2027? The FAIR Act proposes 4.1%. The White House FY2027 budget proposes a freeze. Given the current Congress, 0-1% is the most likely outcome.
Cite This Report
Suggested citation (AP style):
FedTools Research Team. "State of Federal Pay 2026." FedTools, 17 April 2026, https://www.fedtools.com/blog/state-of-federal-pay-2026.
BibTeX:
@misc{fedtools2026pay,
author = {FedTools Research Team},
title = {State of Federal Pay 2026},
year = {2026},
month = {April},
url = {https://www.fedtools.com/blog/state-of-federal-pay-2026}
}
Released under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0). Reuse any statistic with attribution to FedTools.
Sources
- OPM 2026 General Schedule Base Pay Tables: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/general-schedule/
- OPM Salary Table 2026-SF (San Jose-SF, 46.34%): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/salary-tables/26Tables/html/SF.aspx
- OPM Salary Table 2026-EX (Executive Schedule): https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/2026/executive-senior-level
- OPM Within-Grade Increase Fact Sheet: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/within-grade-increases/
- GeneralSchedule.org 2026 Locality List: https://www.generalschedule.org/localities
- GeneralSchedule.org Pay Raise History: https://www.generalschedule.org/raise
- Federal Salary Council Working Group Report, November 18, 2024 (via OPM FSC archive)
- AFGE, "Feds Need 7.4% Pay Raise" (FEPCA gap analysis)
- Federal News Network, "Federal pay rates are falling nearly 25% short of private sector," November 2024: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/pay/2024/11/federal-pay-rates-are-falling-nearly-25-short-of-the-private-sector/
- Federal News Network, "White House budget proposal silent on civilian federal pay raise," April 2026: https://federalnewsnetwork.com/budget/2026/04/white-house-budget-proposal-silent-on-civilian-federal-pay-raise/
- CBO, "Comparing the Compensation of Federal and Private-Sector Employees in 2022," Publication 59970, April 2024: https://www.cbo.gov/publication/59970
- GovExec, "OPM finalizes 3.8% raise for federal law enforcement," January 2026: https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2026/01/opm-finalizes-38-raise-federal-law-enforcement/410553/
- BLS Employment Cost Index (ECI) quarterly releases: https://www.bls.gov/ncs/ect/
- 5 U.S.C. 5302 et seq. (FEPCA); 5 U.S.C. 5308 (pay cap); 5 CFR 531.405 (within-grade increases)
- FAIR Act (H.R. 7480, 119th Congress): https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/7480
- FEBAbenefits.org analysis of 2026 locality pay and new area blocking
Related FedTools data reports:
Related FedTools coverage:
- GS Pay Calculator (all 58 localities)
- High-3 Calculator
- FEPCA: The Law That Should Force Your Pay Raise
- The $197K Ceiling: When Your GS Pay Gets Capped
- Locality Pay Strategy: Which Areas Pay Federal Employees Most
- GS Pay Guide 2026 (pillar)
- 2027 Federal Pay Raise: FAIR Act vs. Trump's 0% Budget
Questions or corrections? Email research@fedtools.com. This report refreshes annually; the next State of Federal Pay report is scheduled for April 2027.
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