GS-14 Pay Scale 2026
Senior manager, section chief, or highly specialized technical expert. Base pay: $107,446 (Step 1) to $139,684 (Step 10) — see full table with all locality adjustments below.
GS-14 Pay at a Glance (2026)
Base Pay (Step 1)
$107,446
nationwide base
Base Pay (Step 10)
$139,684
nationwide base
DC Area (Step 5)
$163,104
33.94% locality
San Jose (Step 10)
$197,200*
46.34% locality
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.
Common job titles:
Section Chief / Division DirectorSenior Attorney-AdviserSenior Contracting Officer (PCO)Supervisory IT SpecialistSenior Intelligence OfficerProgram Director
2026 GS-14 Base Pay — All Steps
Base pay before any locality adjustment. Your total pay = base × (1 + locality%). Source: OPM General Schedule 2026, effective January 11, 2026.
| 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 |
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 Pay in Top 5 Localities (2026)
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 49 locality areas available in the calculator below.
Promotion Context
Previous grade (DC)
GS-13 Step 10
$158,322
Current grade (DC)
GS-14 Step 1 → Step 10
$143,913 → $187,093
Next grade (DC)
GS-15 Step 1
$169,279
-$17,814 vs. Step 10 (two-step rule sets actual promotion pay)
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.
Calculate Your GS Pay
2026 Pay: GS-15 Step 6
Locality: Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PABase Annual
$147,449
Locality Adj. (+33.94%)
$50,044
Total Annual
$197,200*
* Capped at Executive Level IV
Biweekly
$7,585
Hourly: $94.49
About GS Pay
- • Pay data effective 2026-01-11
- • Biweekly pay assumes 26 pay periods per year
- • Hourly rate calculated using 2,087 hours per year (OPM standard)
- • 60 locality areas available
- • Salaries capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200 in 2026)
- • Paycheck breakdown is an estimate - actual deductions vary by individual circumstances
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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.