GS-14 Pay by Step and Locality (2026)
Senior manager, section chief, or highly specialized technical expert. Base pay $107,446 (Step 1) to $139,684 (Step 10); every step for every locality below.
GS-14 pay at a glance (2026)
Nationwide base pay and representative locality-adjusted figures. For the full 2026 GS pay scale (all 15 grades), see the GS Pay Guide 2026.
Who works at GS-14?
GS-14 employees hold significant organizational authority — most are section chiefs, program directors, senior attorneys, or nationally recognized technical experts. This is the second-highest GS grade and competes with SES pipeline positions. Pay in high-cost areas like San Jose and New York approaches the Executive Schedule Level IV cap.
Typical qualifications: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13. These positions are almost entirely filled via competitive promotion or external competitive hiring; very few have direct-hire authority.
GS-14 pay by step (2026): all 10 steps
Base pay before any locality adjustment. Total pay = base × (1 + locality%).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $111,028 | $114,610 | $118,192 | $121,774 | $125,356 | $128,938 | $132,520 | $136,102 | $139,684 |
Source: OPM General Schedule 2026, effective January 11, 2026. Step 1–3 increments occur after 1 year; Steps 4–6 after 2 years; Steps 7–10 after 3 years. All increases require a satisfactory (or better) performance rating.
GS-14 salary by locality (2026): top 5 areas
Total annual pay (base + locality) at Steps 1, 5, and 10.
| Locality area | Locality % | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | +46.34% | $157,236 | $178,204 | $197,200* |
| New York, NY | +37.95% | $148,222 | $167,987 | $192,694 |
| Los Angeles, CA | +36.47% | $146,632 | $166,185 | $190,627 |
| Houston, TX | +35.00% | $145,052 | $164,395 | $188,573 |
| Washington, DC | +33.94% | $143,913 | $163,104 | $187,093 |
FedTools 2026 analysis of OPM salary tables. All 2026 locality areas available in the calculator below.
Promotion context
Promotions above GS-12 are competitive and not automatic. Within-grade step increases require satisfactory performance ratings and time-in-grade.
Calculate your GS-14 salary
Select your step and locality to see your exact pay breakdown — including biweekly paycheck, TSP impact, and what-if raise scenarios.
Frequently asked questions: GS-14 pay
What is the GS-14 pay range in 2026?
The GS-14 base pay range in 2026 is $107,446 (Step 1) to $139,684 (Step 10), before locality pay is added. With the lowest locality adjustment (Rest of U.S., 17.06%), total pay ranges from $125,776 to $163,514. In the Washington, DC area (33.94% locality), GS-14 earns $143,913 (Step 1) to $187,093 (Step 10).
How long does it take to advance from GS-14 Step 1 to Step 10?
Advancement through the 10 steps at GS-14 takes approximately 18 years with satisfactory performance ratings. Steps 1–3 require 1 year each (3 years total), Steps 4–6 require 2 years each (6 years total), and Steps 7–10 require 3 years each (12 years total), for a total of 18 years from Step 1 to Step 10.
What are the typical qualifications for a GS-14 position?
1 year of specialized experience equivalent to GS-13. These positions are almost entirely filled via competitive promotion or external competitive hiring; very few have direct-hire authority.
How does locality pay affect GS-14 salaries?
GS-14 salaries vary significantly by location. The 2026 locality multiplier ranges from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Jose–San Francisco, CA). At Step 5, GS-14 total pay ranges from $142,549 (Rest of U.S.) to $178,204 (San Jose, CA) — a difference of $35,655.
What is the pay difference between GS-14 and GS-15?
In the Washington, DC area, a GS-14 Step 10 earns $187,093 compared to a GS-15 Step 1 at $169,279. That is a difference of -$17,814 upon promotion from GS-14 to GS-15, before any within-grade step adjustments.