LEO Pay Scale 2026: Pay With Locality, GL-3 to GL-10
What federal law enforcement officers actually earn in 2026 — GL special base rates with locality pay added, by grade and locality area. Effective 2026-01-11. Base rates authorized by FEPCA Section 403 (5 U.S.C. § 5541); locality pay under 5 U.S.C. § 5304.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026 • OPM LEO Pay Tables Index
GL special base rates at a glance (2026)
Range for GL-3 through GL-10, all steps, before locality pay.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026. These are annual base rates before locality pay. Locality pay (17.06% Rest of U.S. to 46.34% San Jose/San Francisco) is applied on top.
2026 LEO pay with locality: GL-3 to GL-10, Step 1 and Step 10
Locality pay applies to GL special base rates exactly the way it applies to GS base rates — the same locality percentage, applied to the higher GL rate — so these are the salaries that land on a law enforcement officer’s SF-50; use the GS Pay Calculator for any locality area not shown here.
Step 1 — entry rate for the grade
| Grade | GL base (Step 1) | Rest of U.S. (17.06%) | Washington–Baltimore (33.94%) | New York–Newark (37.95%) | Los Angeles (36.47%) | San Jose–San Francisco (46.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL-3 | $33,252 | $38,925 | $44,538 | $45,871 | $45,379 | $48,661 |
| GL-4 | $37,325 | $43,693 | $49,993 | $51,490 | $50,937 | $54,621 |
| GL-5 | $42,919 | $50,241 | $57,486 | $59,207 | $58,572 | $62,808 |
| GL-6 | $45,256 | $52,977 | $60,616 | $62,431 | $61,761 | $66,228 |
| GL-7 | $48,854 | $57,188 | $65,435 | $67,394 | $66,671 | $71,493 |
| GL-8 | $50,920 | $59,607 | $68,202 | $70,244 | $69,491 | $74,516 |
| GL-9 | $54,485 | $63,780 | $72,977 | $75,162 | $74,356 | $79,733 |
| GL-10 | $59,999 | $70,235 | $80,363 | $82,769 | $81,881 | $87,803 |
Step 10 — top of the grade
| Grade | GL base (Step 10) | Rest of U.S. (17.06%) | Washington–Baltimore (33.94%) | New York–Newark (37.95%) | Los Angeles (36.47%) | San Jose–San Francisco (46.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL-3 | $41,568 | $48,660 | $55,676 | $57,343 | $56,728 | $60,831 |
| GL-4 | $46,658 | $54,618 | $62,494 | $64,365 | $63,674 | $68,279 |
| GL-5 | $53,359 | $62,462 | $71,469 | $73,609 | $72,819 | $78,086 |
| GL-6 | $56,893 | $66,599 | $76,202 | $78,484 | $77,642 | $83,257 |
| GL-7 | $61,787 | $72,328 | $82,758 | $85,235 | $84,321 | $90,419 |
| GL-8 | $65,239 | $76,369 | $87,381 | $89,997 | $89,032 | $95,471 |
| GL-9 | $70,307 | $82,301 | $94,169 | $96,989 | $95,948 | $102,887 |
| GL-10 | $77,414 | $90,621 | $103,688 | $106,793 | $105,647 | $113,288 |
Locality-inclusive totals = GL special base rate × (1 + locality percentage), the same arithmetic OPM uses to build Salary Table 2026-CODE (LEO). Locality percentages from the OPM 2026 locality tables: Rest of U.S. 17.06%, Washington–Baltimore–Arlington (DCB) 33.94%, New York–Newark (NY) 37.95%, Los Angeles–Long Beach (LA) 36.47%, San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland (SF) 46.34%. Verified 2026-10-01: all 80 cells in these two tables match OPM’s published LEO locality tables exactly. LEAP (25%) is not included; where applicable, add 25% of the locality-inclusive rate.
2026 GL Special Base Rate Table — all grades and steps
Annual rates in dollars. Effective January 11, 2026. Locality pay not included.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL-3 | $33,252 | $34,176 | $35,100 | $36,024 | $36,948 | $37,872 | $38,796 | $39,720 | $40,644 | $41,568 |
| GL-4 | $37,325 | $38,362 | $39,399 | $40,436 | $41,473 | $42,510 | $43,547 | $44,584 | $45,621 | $46,658 |
| GL-5 | $42,919 | $44,079 | $45,239 | $46,399 | $47,559 | $48,719 | $49,879 | $51,039 | $52,199 | $53,359 |
| GL-6 | $45,256 | $46,549 | $47,842 | $49,135 | $50,428 | $51,721 | $53,014 | $54,307 | $55,600 | $56,893 |
| GL-7 | $48,854 | $50,291 | $51,728 | $53,165 | $54,602 | $56,039 | $57,476 | $58,913 | $60,350 | $61,787 |
| GL-8 | $50,920 | $52,511 | $54,102 | $55,693 | $57,284 | $58,875 | $60,466 | $62,057 | $63,648 | $65,239 |
| GL-9 | $54,485 | $56,243 | $58,001 | $59,759 | $61,517 | $63,275 | $65,033 | $66,791 | $68,549 | $70,307 |
| GL-10 | $59,999 | $61,934 | $63,869 | $65,804 | $67,739 | $69,674 | $71,609 | $73,544 | $75,479 | $77,414 |
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026. Effective 2026-01-11. Authorized by FEPCA Section 403; 5 U.S.C. § 5541(3); 5 CFR § 550.103.
What are LEO special base rates?
Most federal employees are paid under the General Schedule (GS), where salary is base pay plus a locality adjustment. Law enforcement officers serving in positions defined by 5 U.S.C. § 5541(3) receive a different foundation: GL special base rates.
Congress established these elevated base rates in Section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA) to address recruitment and retention challenges at entry-level law enforcement grades. The GL rates apply at grades 3 through 10; officers at GL-11 and above transition back to regular GS base rates (though locality pay still applies).
The mechanism: OPM publishes a separate GL salary table each year. The table follows the same 10-step structure as GS, with the same within-grade step amounts as the corresponding GS grade. What changes is the starting point — GL Step 1 for each grade is set higher than GS Step 1 for that same grade. In 2026, GL-3 Step 1 ($33,252) is equivalent to GS-3 Step 7, and GL-7 Step 1 ($48,854) equals GS-7 Step 5.
- →GL rates apply to grades 3–10 only; GL-11+ officers are paid under the regular GS table
- →Locality pay is applied on top of the GL special base rate, not the GS base rate
- →Within-grade step amounts are identical to the corresponding GS grade
- →The GL rate is always higher than the equivalent GS rate at the same grade and step
- →Criminal investigators may also receive LEAP (25% of base) under 5 U.S.C. § 5545a
- →Overtime rules for LEOs differ from GS: 5 U.S.C. § 5542 sets a capped rate
FedTools 2026 analysis: LEO premium vs. GS base rate by grade
How much more does each GL grade earn at Step 1 compared to the standard GS base rate for the same grade? Original data — this per-grade premium delta is not published by OPM or competitors.
| Grade | GL-N Step 1 | GS-N Step 1 | LEO Premium | Premium % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GL-3 | $33,252 | $27,708 | +$5,544 | +20.0% |
| GL-4 | $37,325 | $31,103 | +$6,222 | +20.0% |
| GL-5 | $42,919 | $34,799 | +$8,120 | +23.3% |
| GL-6 | $45,256 | $38,791 | +$6,465 | +16.7% |
| GL-7 | $48,854 | $43,106 | +$5,748 | +13.3% |
| GL-8 | $50,920 | $47,738 | +$3,182 | +6.7% |
| GL-9 | $54,485 | $52,727 | +$1,758 | +3.3% |
| GL-10 | $59,999 | $58,064 | +$1,935 | +3.3% |
FedTools 2026 analysis. GL Step 1 values from OPM Salary Table 2026-GL. GS Step 1 values from OPM GS Pay Table 2026. Premium = GL Step 1 − GS Step 1. The premium narrows at higher grades as GS rates converge with GL rates. After GL-10, officers move to the regular GS table and the dedicated GL premium disappears.
How locality pay stacks on top of GL special base rates
A GL officer’s adjusted rate of basic pay is the GL special base rate multiplied by one plus the locality percentage for the area where the position is located. The locality percentage itself is the same number GS employees in that area get — 17.06% in Rest of U.S., 46.34% in the San Jose–San Francisco area for 2026. What differs is the figure it multiplies: for grades 3 through 10 the GL special base rate replaces the GS base rate in that calculation (5 U.S.C. § 5304; FEPCA Section 403), which is why a GL-7 and a GS-7 in the same city do not land on the same salary.
OPM publishes a separate LEO table for every locality area rather than one combined table, so officers comparing two duty stations have to open two documents. The side-by-side table above puts five of the largest areas in one view at Step 1 and Step 10. At GL-11 and above the GL schedule ends and officers return to the regular GS base rate, though locality pay continues to apply.
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP)
Criminal investigators (primarily 1811 Criminal Investigator and 1812 Game Law Enforcement positions) who are required to work, or be available for work, at least two hours beyond their regular 8-hour workday are entitled to LEAP — an additional 25% of base pay under 5 U.S.C. § 5545a. LEAP is calculated on the adjusted rate of basic pay (base + locality).
For example, a GL-7 Step 1 criminal investigator in Washington, DC earns a GL base of $48,854 plus the DCB locality adjustment of 33.94%, yielding $65,435 in adjusted base pay. LEAP adds 25% on top of that, bringing total pay to approximately $81,794 annually.
Not all LEOs receive LEAP. Border Patrol Agents, police officers, and other law enforcement positions that are not criminal investigators are generally not covered. LEAP also replaces — rather than supplements — standard overtime pay for covered employees.
GL grade detail pages
Click any grade for the full 10-step table, the LEO premium delta, locality examples, and FAQs.
LEO pay — frequently asked questions
What are LEO special base rates (the GL pay schedule)?
LEO special base rates are higher-than-standard salaries paid to federal law enforcement officers at grades GL-3 through GL-10. They are authorized by Section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (FEPCA), codified at 5 U.S.C. § 5541(3). The GL pay plan code identifies employees receiving these rates. In 2026, GL-3 Step 1 is $33,252 and GL-10 Step 10 is $77,414 — before locality pay. Locality pay is applied on top of the special base rate, not on top of the standard GS base.
How does LEO locality pay work differently from standard GS?
For standard GS employees, locality pay is added on top of the GS base rate. For LEO officers at GL grades 3–10, the same locality percentage applies — but it is applied on top of the GL special base rate (which is already higher than GS base). The GL rate effectively replaces the GS base for purposes of the locality calculation. This means a GL-7 officer in Washington, DC earns 33.94% more than the GL-7 special base, resulting in a total salary meaningfully higher than a GS-7 at the same step in the same city. The locality table published separately for each LEO locality area shows these combined totals.
What is LEAP (Law Enforcement Availability Pay)?
LEAP (Law Enforcement Availability Pay), also called Criminal Investigator Pay, is an additional 25% of base pay paid to criminal investigators (occupational series 1811, 1812, and related) who are required to work, or be available for work, at least 2 hours beyond their regular 8-hour workday. The authority is 5 U.S.C. § 5545a. LEAP is calculated on top of the adjusted rate (base + locality). It does not stack on top of regular overtime; instead, LEAP largely replaces overtime for covered investigators. Not all LEOs at GL grades receive LEAP — it is specific to criminal investigator positions.
Why does a GL-3 earn more than a GS-3 at Step 1?
By statute, no LEO officer can be paid less than the GS-3 Step 4 rate — ensuring a meaningful pay premium over comparable GS employees. In practice, the GL-3 Step 1 rate for 2026 ($33,252) equals GS-3 Step 7, representing a premium of $5,544 over GS-3 Step 1 ($27,708). This premium narrows at higher grades (GL-10 Step 1 is $59,999 versus GS-10 Step 1 at $58,064, a $1,935 premium) because standard GS rates grow faster at higher grades and the FEPCA offset shrinks. See each GL grade's detail page for the per-grade premium table.
Which positions are covered by GL special base rates?
Law enforcement officers as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 5541(3) are covered. The definition includes federal employees who have statutory authority to carry firearms, make arrests, and enforce federal law, as further specified in 5 CFR § 550.103. Common covered series include Border Patrol Agent (1896), Criminal Investigator (1811), Customs and Border Protection Officer (1895), Police Officer (0083), and Park Ranger (GS-025 when in law enforcement capacity). Agency HR offices make position-by-position determinations. Not all federal security or police positions qualify — the statutory definition is specific.
Data Accuracy Notice: GL special base rates are from OPM Salary Table 2026-GL, effective January 11, 2026. Step-1 values for all 8 GL grades were verified against official OPM sources on 2026-08-10. Full 10-step tables derived from the RUS locality table (÷ 1.1706), confirmed by GS within-grade amount alignment. On 2026-10-01 all 80 locality-inclusive cells on this page (GL-3–GL-10 × Step 1 and Step 10 × 5 locality areas) were checked cell-by-cell against OPM’s published 2026 LEO locality tables — 80 of 80 matched exactly. This page is for informational reference only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Verify current rates at OPM Salary Table 2026-GL.