How Does the Federal GS Pay Scale Work?

The General Schedule (GS) pay scale is the salary system covering roughly 1.5 million federal civilian employees across the United States. If you are transitioning from the military into a federal career, understanding how GS grades and steps determine your paycheck is one of the most practical things you can learn before applying on USAJOBS.

The GS system has 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15), and each grade has 10 steps. Your grade determines your base salary range, and your step determines where you fall within that range. GS-1 is the lowest grade, typically for entry-level clerical positions with no experience requirement. GS-15 is the highest, covering senior-level positions with significant responsibility, advanced expertise, and often supervisory duties over large programs or divisions.

The grade of a position is set by the agency based on the complexity, responsibility, and qualification requirements of the job — not by the applicant. When you apply for a federal position, the job announcement tells you the grade level. You cannot negotiate the grade, but you may be able to negotiate your step within that grade.

What Does Each GS Grade Actually Pay in 2026?

The base pay table is a starting point, but almost no federal employee earns just the base amount. Locality pay adjustments increase your salary based on where you work. Here are the 2026 base salary ranges for each grade at Step 1 and Step 10, before locality adjustments:

GS-1 through GS-4 (Entry Level): These grades cover positions requiring little to no specialized experience. GS-1 Step 1 starts around $21,756, and GS-4 Step 10 reaches approximately $34,480. Most veterans with military experience will qualify well above these grades, but they exist for positions like mail clerks, data entry operators, and basic administrative support roles.

GS-5 through GS-7 (Journey Level): This is where many transitioning veterans land initially. GS-5 Step 1 pays roughly $33,693, and GS-7 Step 10 reaches about $52,926. A GS-5 position typically requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. GS-7 positions require one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, a master's degree, or superior academic achievement. Many enlisted veterans with 4-6 years of service qualify for GS-5 or GS-7 positions based on their military experience alone.

GS-9 through GS-11 (Full Performance): These grades represent mid-career professionals with significant specialized experience. GS-9 Step 1 starts around $46,083, and GS-11 Step 10 reaches approximately $73,939. NCOs with 8-12 years of service and technical or supervisory experience often qualify at these levels. Many veterans with a combination of education and military experience enter federal service at GS-9 through career ladder positions that promote to GS-11 and GS-12 without re-competing.

GS-12 through GS-13 (Senior Level): These are experienced professional positions requiring deep specialized knowledge. GS-12 Step 1 pays roughly $66,214, and GS-13 Step 10 reaches about $104,861. Senior NCOs (E-7 and above) and company-grade officers (O-1 through O-3) often qualify at these levels based on their leadership experience and technical expertise.

GS-14 through GS-15 (Expert/Executive Level): These grades cover positions with significant organizational impact — division chiefs, program managers, senior advisors. GS-14 Step 1 starts around $91,270, and GS-15 Step 10 reaches approximately $143,646. Senior officers (O-4 and above) and the most experienced senior enlisted leaders may qualify at these levels, particularly in fields where their military specialty directly maps to the federal position.

Your Federal Resume
Should Look Like This

We built OPM data directly into our AI so your federal resume goes beyond just matching the job announcement. It pulls in the right competencies, KSAs, and specialized experience details that get you referred — formatted in the 2-page federal layout USAJOBS expects.

OPM data built in — goes beyond the job announcement Full 2-page federal format for USAJOBS Tailored to every GS position you apply for

Build Your Resume Free

2 free resumes — no credit card required

How Does Locality Pay Change Your Salary?

Locality pay is an adjustment to your base salary that accounts for the cost of living in different geographic areas. The Office of Personnel Management defines locality pay areas across the country, and each area has a different percentage adjustment applied on top of the GS base pay table.

This matters because the actual salary difference between locations can be substantial. A GS-11 Step 5 position might pay $57,000 in base salary, but with locality adjustments the same position pays about $69,000 in the D.C. area, $72,000 in San Francisco, or $60,000 in a smaller metro area. The Rest of U.S. locality rate — which applies to areas not covered by a specific locality — still adds roughly 17% above base pay.

For veterans comparing federal offers to private sector opportunities, always look at the locality-adjusted salary, not the base figure. The job announcement on USAJOBS will typically show the salary range with locality pay already included for the duty station listed. If the announcement covers multiple locations, the salary range may vary.

You can look up exact locality-adjusted pay tables on the OPM website (opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/salaries-wages/). This is worth doing before you apply, so you know whether the position will meet your financial needs at the specific duty station.

How Does Military Experience Translate to GS Grades?

There is no official one-to-one conversion between military rank and GS grade. The federal qualification standards use "specialized experience" — not rank — to determine what grade level you qualify for. That said, there are practical patterns that hold true for many veterans.

Your military experience counts as qualifying experience when it directly relates to the duties of the federal position. An E-5 with six years as a logistics specialist can qualify for a GS-7 or GS-9 supply management position because their daily duties — inventory management, distribution operations, supply chain coordination — map directly to the federal job's requirements.

Here are general patterns, though individual positions vary:

E-1 through E-4 (1-4 years): Typically qualify for GS-3 through GS-5 depending on the specialty and whether you have a degree. If your military training included formal coursework, that can sometimes substitute for education requirements.

E-5 through E-6 (4-10 years): Generally qualify for GS-5 through GS-9. Supervisory experience, technical certifications, and specialized training strengthen your qualification. An E-6 who supervised a section of 15 soldiers has documented supervisory experience that directly supports GS-7 and GS-9 level positions requiring personnel management.

E-7 through E-9 (10-20+ years): Often qualify for GS-9 through GS-12, and sometimes GS-13 for highly technical or broad-scope positions. Senior NCOs with program management experience, budget authority, or organization-wide responsibilities should target GS-11 and GS-12 positions.

O-1 through O-3 (4-10 years): Typically qualify for GS-9 through GS-12. Officers bring documented leadership, planning, and decision-making experience that maps well to mid-level federal management and analyst positions.

O-4 through O-6 (10-20+ years): Often qualify for GS-13 through GS-15. Field-grade officers with command experience, budget authority over millions of dollars, and strategic planning responsibilities bring qualifications that match senior federal positions.

How Do Steps and Within-Grade Increases Work?

Once you are hired at a specific grade, you advance through steps based on acceptable performance and time in your current step. Steps are not automatic promotions — they are incremental pay raises within your current grade.

The waiting periods between steps follow a set schedule. Steps 1 to 2, 2 to 3, and 3 to 4 each require one year of acceptable performance. Steps 4 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 to 7 each require two years. Steps 7 to 8, 8 to 9, and 9 to 10 each require three years. This means it takes 18 years to go from Step 1 to Step 10 within the same grade.

The dollar difference between steps varies by grade. At GS-12, each step increase adds roughly $2,200 to your annual salary. At GS-15, each step adds about $3,500. Over time these increases add up — a GS-12 Step 10 earns roughly $20,000 more than a GS-12 Step 1 in base pay alone, before locality adjustments.

When you enter federal service, your starting step can sometimes be negotiated. If you have a current salary — from military pay, a contractor position, or private sector employment — that exceeds the GS grade's Step 1 salary, you can request a higher starting step under the superior qualifications or special needs pay-setting authority. This is not guaranteed, but agencies have the flexibility to offer it, and it is worth requesting. Bring documentation of your current compensation, including your most recent LES or W-2, to support the request.

What About Career Ladder Positions and Promotions?

Many federal positions are advertised as career ladder positions with a range of grades — for example, GS-7/9/11 or GS-9/11/12. These positions hire you at the lower grade with a built-in promotion path to the full performance level. As long as you perform successfully, you are promoted to the next grade level at each anniversary without having to compete for a new position.

This is one of the most important concepts for veterans to understand when reviewing federal job announcements. A position advertised as GS-7/9/11 means you could start at GS-7 and be promoted to GS-11 within two years. That represents a significant salary increase — from roughly $43,000 to $57,000 in base pay — without applying for a new job.

When you see career ladder positions on USAJOBS, pay attention to the target grade, not just the starting grade. A GS-7 starting position with a GS-12 target grade represents a long-term earning path that may be more valuable than a standalone GS-9 position with no promotion potential built in. The veterans' preference points you earned through your service help you compete for these positions, so use them strategically.

Beyond career ladder promotions, you can also compete for positions at higher grade levels across the federal government. Once you are a federal employee, you gain access to internal vacancy announcements that are not available to the public. Many agencies also offer leadership development programs, details (temporary assignments), and training opportunities that position you for promotion into supervisory and management roles.

How Does Federal Pay Compare to Military Pay?

Comparing federal civilian pay to military pay is not straightforward because military compensation includes non-taxable benefits like BAH, BAS, and healthcare that do not have direct civilian equivalents. When you transition to federal service, your base salary is fully taxable, but you gain other benefits that partially offset the difference.

Federal employees receive the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which offers a wide range of health insurance plans. The government pays roughly 70-75% of the premium, and your share is deducted pre-tax. You also contribute to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which combines a defined benefit pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) — which works identically to the military's TSP, so your existing contributions transfer seamlessly.

For a practical comparison: an E-7 with 16 years in the D.C. area earns roughly $85,000-$95,000 in total military compensation (base pay + BAH + BAS). A GS-11 Step 5 in the D.C. area earns about $76,000 in salary, plus benefits that add roughly 30-35% in value (health insurance, retirement contributions, paid leave). The total compensation package is comparable, though the mix of cash versus benefits differs.

Federal employees also receive generous paid leave — 13 days of annual leave per year for the first three years, 20 days from years 3-15, and 26 days after 15 years. Your military time counts toward this calculation if you retire from the military or are a disabled veteran. Combined with 13 days of sick leave and 11 federal holidays, the paid time off significantly exceeds most private sector employers.

If you are evaluating whether a federal position meets your financial needs, calculate your current total military compensation (use the Military Compensation Calculator on militarypay.defense.gov), then compare it to the federal salary plus the value of FEHB, FERS contributions, TSP matching (up to 5%), and paid leave. For many veterans, especially those in high-locality areas, the numbers work out favorably — particularly when you factor in career ladder positions that increase your salary annually for the first few years.

Related: Military rank to GS level conversion chart and federal resume length 2026: the new 2-page limit.