2026 pay tables for administrative law judges, appeals judges and boards of contract appeals

OPM's Salary Table No. 2026-ALJ runs from $131,700 (AL-3/A) to $197,200 (AL-1); the administrative appeals judge table from $131,700 (AA-1) to $182,400 (AA-6); and the board of contract appeals table from $185,368 (Other Members) to $197,200 (Chairman). Each has a locality table with one row per locality pay area (58 rows), in which OPM limits rates to Executive Schedule level III ($209,600): in 2026 that limit reaches 58 of 58 ALJ rows, 58 of 58 AAJ rows and every cell of the BCA locality table (58 of 58 rows). All six tables are effective January 2026 (first pay period January 11, 2026).

Source: OPM, six XML files from the 2026 Executive & Senior Level page (bytes and SHA-256 of each in the Sources block), fetched October 18, 2026. The three tables are on one page because they share one structure and one limit.

Administrative law judges (AL-3/A to AL-1)

Administrative law judges are appointed under 5 U.S.C. 3105 to preside over hearings under the Administrative Procedure Act; 5 U.S.C. 5372 sets their pay at the levels AL-3 (rates A to F), AL-2 and AL-1, with AL-1 limited to Executive Schedule level IV. Under 5 U.S.C. 5304(h) these positions receive locality pay, and under 5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2) the locality rate may not exceed Executive Schedule level III. Statute: 5 U.S.C. 5372.

Basic Rates of Pay for Administrative Law Judges, 2026

Locality Rates of Pay for Administrative Law Judges, 2026

OPM's "2026 Locality Rates of Pay" for Administrative Law Judges, one row per locality pay area; the asterisk is OPM's. Each area's GS percentage and places are on its locality page.

OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2))

Administrative appeals judges (AA-1 to AA-6)

Administrative appeals judges review decisions of administrative law judges in the agencies 5 U.S.C. 5372b names; the section ties their rates to the ALJ rates, which is why the six AA levels print the same figures as AL-3/A to AL-3/F. Under 5 U.S.C. 5304(h) these positions receive locality pay, and under 5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2) the locality rate may not exceed Executive Schedule level III. Statute: 5 U.S.C. 5372b.

Basic Rates of Pay for Administrative Appeals Judges, 2026

Locality Rates of Pay for Administrative Appeals Judges, 2026

OPM's "2026 Locality Rates of Pay" for Administrative Appeals Judges, one row per locality pay area; the asterisk is OPM's. Each area's GS percentage and places are on its locality page.

OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2))

Members of boards of contract appeals

Boards of contract appeals decide disputes under the Contract Disputes Act; 5 U.S.C. 5372a sets the chairman's rate at Executive Schedule level IV, the vice chairman's at 97 percent of it and other members' at 94 percent of it. Under 5 U.S.C. 5304(h) these positions receive locality pay, and under 5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2) the locality rate may not exceed Executive Schedule level III. Statute: 5 U.S.C. 5372a.

Basic Rates of Pay for Members of Boards of Contract Appeals, 2026

Locality Rates of Pay for Members of Boards of Contract Appeals, 2026

OPM's "2026 Locality Rates of Pay" for Members of Boards of Contract Appeals (BCA), one row per locality pay area; the asterisk is OPM's. Each area's GS percentage and places are on its locality page.

OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2))

The limits on these tables

• Base tables: AL-1 and the BCA chairman print $197,200, Executive Schedule level IV (5 U.S.C. 5372(b) and 5372a(b)).
• Locality tables: "Rate limited to the rate for level III of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304(g)(2))", as OPM's footnote on each of the three reads; level III is $209,600 in 2026.
• The Executive Schedule page lists the 2026 levels and every limit they set.

Related

• The 2026 General Schedule and its 58 locality pay areas.
• Senior Executive Service and SL/ST ranges.