GS Pay Scale 2027: Projected Pay Tables
Every 2027 GS grade, step and locality rate on one page. Under the pay plan in place today, 2027 pay is the same as 2026. We switch this page to OPM's official tables the day they post.
Where 2027 pay stands (as of October 31, 2026)
- The President's alternative pay plan letter, dated August 26, 2026 and made public August 28, freezes 2027 base pay and locality pay at 2026 rates for most civilian employees.
- Federal law enforcement personnel get 3.8% (see LEO pay tables). The defense bill sets the military raise.
- Congress can still add a raise in a spending bill. The FAIR Act (4.1%) has not left committee, and a 3.1% amendment failed 28-32 in House Appropriations.
- The President's pay order in late December settles it, and OPM posts the official tables after that. New rates start January 10, 2027 for most agencies.
Every figure on this page is projected from OPM's 2026 tables, which the plan carries forward unchanged. The 2027 pay tracker follows each step.
2027 GS Pay by Grade: Key Steps
| Grade | Step 1 base | Step 10 base | Step 1 Rest of U.S. | Step 1 DC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $45,239 | $40,736 | $46,610 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $56,039 | $50,460 | $57,736 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $68,549 | $61,722 | $70,623 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $82,938 | $74,678 | $85,447 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $99,404 | $89,508 | $102,415 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $118,204 | $106,437 | $121,785 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $139,684 | $125,776 | $143,913 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $164,301 | $147,945 | $169,279 |
Locality pay is capped at Executive Level IV ($197,200 in 2026; the 2027 cap is set by the pay order). Get your exact figure in the GS Pay Calculator.
2027 GS Base Pay Table: All Grades and Steps
All 15 grades and 10 steps, projected. Switch between annual, biweekly and hourly pay.
Base pay before locality adjustments
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $23,341 | $24,092 | $24,840 | $25,589 | $26,028 | $26,771 | $27,519 | $27,550 | $28,248 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $25,997 | $26,839 | $27,550 | $27,858 | $28,677 | $29,496 | $30,315 | $31,134 | $31,953 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $28,632 | $29,556 | $30,480 | $31,404 | $32,328 | $33,252 | $34,176 | $35,100 | $36,024 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $32,140 | $33,177 | $34,214 | $35,251 | $36,288 | $37,325 | $38,362 | $39,399 | $40,436 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $35,959 | $37,119 | $38,279 | $39,439 | $40,599 | $41,759 | $42,919 | $44,079 | $45,239 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $40,084 | $41,377 | $42,670 | $43,963 | $45,256 | $46,549 | $47,842 | $49,135 | $50,428 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $44,543 | $45,980 | $47,417 | $48,854 | $50,291 | $51,728 | $53,165 | $54,602 | $56,039 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $49,329 | $50,920 | $52,511 | $54,102 | $55,693 | $57,284 | $58,875 | $60,466 | $62,057 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $54,485 | $56,243 | $58,001 | $59,759 | $61,517 | $63,275 | $65,033 | $66,791 | $68,549 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $59,999 | $61,934 | $63,869 | $65,804 | $67,739 | $69,674 | $71,609 | $73,544 | $75,479 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $65,922 | $68,049 | $70,176 | $72,303 | $74,430 | $76,557 | $78,684 | $80,811 | $82,938 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $79,012 | $81,561 | $84,110 | $86,659 | $89,208 | $91,757 | $94,306 | $96,855 | $99,404 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $93,956 | $96,987 | $100,018 | $103,049 | $106,080 | $109,111 | $112,142 | $115,173 | $118,204 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $111,028 | $114,610 | $118,192 | $121,774 | $125,356 | $128,938 | $132,520 | $136,102 | $139,684 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $130,597 | $134,810 | $139,023 | $143,236 | $147,449 | $151,662 | $155,875 | $160,088 | $164,301 |
2027 Locality Pay Rates
Under the plan, every locality rate stays at its 2026 level. San Jose-San Francisco remains the highest at 46.34%; Rest of U.S. stays 17.06%. The last column is a GS-12 Step 5 salary in each area.
Showing 59 of 59 locality areas. Click column headers to sort.
What Would Change the 2027 Numbers
Only Congress can change the freeze now. If a spending bill includes a raise, OPM applies it to every number above, usually split between base pay and locality pay. A 4.1% FAIR Act raise, for example, would lift a GS-12 Step 1 Rest of U.S. salary from about $89,508 to roughly $93,178.
Your own pay can still go up in 2027 without a raise: a step increase, a promotion, or a move to a higher-paying locality all count. See how much the next step is worth in the step increase timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the GS pay scale for 2027?
Under the President's alternative pay plan, the 2027 GS base pay scale is the same as 2026: $22,584 at GS-1 Step 1 up to $164,301 at GS-15 Step 10, before locality pay. These figures stay projected until OPM posts the official 2027 tables after the December pay order.
Is there a federal pay raise in 2027?
Not for most civilian employees, unless Congress acts. The alternative pay plan letter dated August 26, 2026 holds base pay and locality pay at 2026 rates for 2027. Federal law enforcement personnel get a 3.8% raise, and the military raise is set separately by the defense bill.
Will locality pay change in 2027?
Not under the current plan. The letter holds locality percentages at 2026 levels, so the Rest of U.S. rate stays 17.06% and Washington-Baltimore stays 33.94%.
Can Congress still give a 2027 raise?
Yes, through an appropriations bill or standalone law passed before or after the pay order. The FAIR Act would provide 4.1%, but it has not left committee, and a 3.1% amendment failed 28-32 in the House Appropriations Committee. Spending negotiations are the remaining path.
When do 2027 GS pay rates take effect?
On the first day of the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2027, which is January 10, 2027 for most agencies. OPM usually posts the official tables in late December, once the President signs the annual pay order.
What is a GS-12 salary in 2027?
Projected at $76,463 (Step 1) to $99,404 (Step 10) in base pay, the same as 2026. With locality, GS-12 Step 1 is about $89,508 in Rest of U.S. areas and $102,415 in the Washington, DC area.
What is a GS-13 salary in 2027?
Projected at $90,925 (Step 1) to $118,204 (Step 10) in base pay. GS-13 Step 1 with locality is about $106,437 in Rest of U.S. areas and $121,785 in the Washington, DC area.