GL-5 Pay Scale 2026 — LEO Special Base Rates
GL-5 special base rate: $42,919 (Step 1) to $53,359 (Step 10). Effective 2026-01-11. Locality pay applies on top; LEO premium over GS-5: +$8,120 at Step 1.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026
GL-5 pay at a glance (2026)
Special base rate plus locality examples at Step 1. Locality adds 17–46% depending on duty station.
2026 GL-5 special base rate — all 10 steps
Annual rates in dollars. WGA (within-grade step increase): $1,160/step.
| Step | GL-5 Special Base | + RUS (17.06%) | + DC (33.94%) | GS-5 Base | LEO Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,919 | $50,241 | $57,486 | $34,799 | +$8,120 |
| Step 2 | $44,079 | $51,599 | $59,039 | $35,959 | +$8,120 |
| Step 3 | $45,239 | $52,957 | $60,593 | $37,119 | +$8,120 |
| Step 4 | $46,399 | $54,315 | $62,147 | $38,279 | +$8,120 |
| Step 5 | $47,559 | $55,673 | $63,701 | $39,439 | +$8,120 |
| Step 6 | $48,719 | $57,030 | $65,254 | $40,599 | +$8,120 |
| Step 7 | $49,879 | $58,388 | $66,808 | $41,759 | +$8,120 |
| Step 8 | $51,039 | $59,746 | $68,362 | $42,919 | +$8,120 |
| Step 9 | $52,199 | $61,104 | $69,915 | $44,079 | +$8,120 |
| Step 10 | $53,359 | $62,462 | $71,469 | $45,239 | +$8,120 |
FedTools 2026 analysis. GL base from OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026. GS-5 base rates from OPM GS Pay Table 2026. LEO Premium = GL Special Base − GS Base at the same step. Locality totals (RUS 17.06%, DCB 33.94%) from OPM GS locality tables 2026. LEAP (25%) not shown — add 25% to total (GL + locality) for covered criminal investigators.
Why GL-5 earns more than GS-5
At Step 1, a GL-5 law enforcement officer earns $42,919 — $8,120 more than a standard GS-5 Step 1 employee ($34,799). This is a 23.3% premium built into the base rate itself, before any locality pay is applied.
Congress established this structure through Section 403 of FEPCA (1990), recognizing that federal law enforcement positions require additional physical and legal risk exposure beyond comparable GS civilian roles. The GL-5 Step 1 rate in 2026 is structurally equivalent to GS-5 Step 8, meaning a brand-new LEO officer at GL-5 starts where a GS-5 employee would arrive after several years of step increases.
The GL-5 Step 1 LEO premium is +$8,120 (23.3%) over GS-5 Step 1. In the Washington, DC locality, this translates to a total compensation difference of +$10,876 after the 33.94% DCB locality factor is applied to both.
GL-5 — frequently asked questions
What is the GL-5 Step 1 salary in 2026?
The GL-5 special base rate at Step 1 in 2026 is $42,919, effective January 11, 2026. This is the special base rate before locality pay. Adding the Rest of U.S. locality factor (17.06%) brings the total to $50,241. In the Washington, DC area (33.94%), total pay is $57,486 at Step 1. Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GL.
How much more does GL-5 pay compared to GS-5?
At Step 1, GL-5 earns $42,919 — a premium of +$8,120 (+23.3%) above the GS-5 Step 1 base rate of $34,799. This premium exists across all 10 steps: at Step 10, GL-5 pays $53,359 versus the standard GS-5 Step 10 base. The GL rate is set higher to address LEO recruitment and retention, as authorized by FEPCA Section 403. Note that both GL and GS employees in the same locality receive the same locality percentage on top of their respective base rates.
How much does a GL-5 officer earn in the Washington, DC area?
A GL-5 officer in the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington (DCB) locality area earns the GL-5 special base rate plus the 33.94% DCB locality adjustment. At Step 1: $42,919 × 1.3394 = $57,486. At Step 10: $53,359 × 1.3394 = $71,469. Criminal investigators at this grade who receive LEAP (25%) would earn an additional 25% on top of the adjusted base — approximately $71,858 total at Step 1.
What is the GL-5 within-grade step amount?
The GL-5 within-grade amount (WGA) — the dollar increase per step — is $1,160. This matches the GS-5 WGA exactly. A GL-5 officer moves from Step 1 ($42,919) to Step 10 ($53,359) over the career timeline defined by the within-grade waiting period rules (1 year for Steps 1–3, 2 years for Steps 4–6, 3 years for Steps 7–9, per 5 U.S.C. § 5335). Total progression from Step 1 to Step 10 takes a minimum of 18 years without performance accelerations.
When does GL pay apply and when does it end?
GL special base rates apply to law enforcement officers at grades 3 through 10 only. At GL-11 and above (GS-11+), officers transition to the standard GS pay table — the GL premium applies only at the lower grades. Position-by-position coverage determinations are made by agency HR offices under 5 U.S.C. § 5541(3) and 5 CFR § 550.103. The GL rate is not optional — covered officers are required to be paid at the GL rate rather than the lower GS base rate for their grade and step.
Browse all GL grades
2026 special base rates and LEO premium tables for every GL grade.
Data Accuracy Notice: GL-5 special base rates are from OPM Salary Table 2026-GL (LEO Special Base Rates), effective January 11, 2026, effective 2026-01-11. Step-1 values for GL-5 were verified against official OPM sources. GS comparison figures from OPM GS Pay Table 2026. Locality figures from OPM GS locality tables 2026. This page is for informational reference only and does not constitute financial or career advice. Verify current rates at OPM Salary Table 2026-GL.