2026 GS pay in the Denver-Aurora, CO locality pay area
In 2026, General Schedule employees in the Denver-Aurora, CO locality pay area receive a locality payment of 30.52% on top of base pay, the 12th highest of OPM's 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 is $99,800 a year here against $76,463 in the base table, and GS-15 step 10 is $197,200, limited to Executive Schedule level IV. The table incorporates the 1% General Schedule increase and is effective January 2026 (first pay period ).
Source: OPM, Salary Table 2026-DEN (XML, SHA-256 498124838d81…) and locality pay area definitions, fetched .
At a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| OPM table code | DEN |
| Locality payment, 2026 | 30.52% (rank 12 of 58) |
| GS-5 step 1 | $45,420 a year, $21.76 an hour |
| GS-9 step 1 | $68,819 a year, $32.98 an hour |
| GS-13 step 1 | $118,675 a year, $56.86 an hour |
| Cells at the statutory cap | 4 (GS-15; $197,200) |
| States in the area | CO |
Annual rates, 2026
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $29,477 | $30,465 | $31,445 | $32,421 | $33,399 | $33,972 | $34,942 | $35,918 | $35,958 | $36,869 |
| GS-2 | $33,143 | $33,931 | $35,030 | $35,958 | $36,360 | $37,429 | $38,498 | $39,567 | $40,636 | $41,705 |
| GS-3 | $36,164 | $37,370 | $38,576 | $39,782 | $40,989 | $42,195 | $43,401 | $44,607 | $45,813 | $47,019 |
| GS-4 | $40,596 | $41,949 | $43,303 | $44,656 | $46,010 | $47,363 | $48,717 | $50,070 | $51,424 | $52,777 |
| GS-5 | $45,420 | $46,934 | $48,448 | $49,962 | $51,476 | $52,990 | $54,504 | $56,018 | $57,532 | $59,046 |
| GS-6 | $50,630 | $52,318 | $54,005 | $55,693 | $57,381 | $59,068 | $60,756 | $62,443 | $64,131 | $65,819 |
| GS-7 | $56,262 | $58,138 | $60,013 | $61,889 | $63,764 | $65,640 | $67,515 | $69,391 | $71,267 | $73,142 |
| GS-8 | $62,308 | $64,384 | $66,461 | $68,537 | $70,614 | $72,691 | $74,767 | $76,844 | $78,920 | $80,997 |
| GS-9 | $68,819 | $71,114 | $73,408 | $75,703 | $77,997 | $80,292 | $82,587 | $84,881 | $87,176 | $89,470 |
| GS-10 | $75,785 | $78,311 | $80,836 | $83,362 | $85,887 | $88,413 | $90,939 | $93,464 | $95,990 | $98,515 |
| GS-11 | $83,265 | $86,041 | $88,818 | $91,594 | $94,370 | $97,146 | $99,922 | $102,698 | $105,475 | $108,251 |
| GS-12 | $99,800 | $103,126 | $106,453 | $109,780 | $113,107 | $116,434 | $119,761 | $123,088 | $126,415 | $129,742 |
| GS-13 | $118,675 | $122,631 | $126,587 | $130,543 | $134,500 | $138,456 | $142,412 | $146,368 | $150,324 | $154,280 |
| GS-14 | $140,239 | $144,914 | $149,589 | $154,264 | $158,939 | $163,615 | $168,290 | $172,965 | $177,640 | $182,316 |
| GS-15 | $164,956 | $170,455 | $175,954 | $181,453 | $186,952 | $192,450 | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)).
Hourly rates, 2026
Hourly basic rates as OPM publishes them (annual rate divided by 2,087, rounded to the cent).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $14.12 | $14.60 | $15.07 | $15.53 | $16.00 | $16.28 | $16.74 | $17.21 | $17.23 | $17.67 |
| GS-2 | $15.88 | $16.26 | $16.78 | $17.23 | $17.42 | $17.93 | $18.45 | $18.96 | $19.47 | $19.98 |
| GS-3 | $17.33 | $17.91 | $18.48 | $19.06 | $19.64 | $20.22 | $20.80 | $21.37 | $21.95 | $22.53 |
| GS-4 | $19.45 | $20.10 | $20.75 | $21.40 | $22.05 | $22.69 | $23.34 | $23.99 | $24.64 | $25.29 |
| GS-5 | $21.76 | $22.49 | $23.21 | $23.94 | $24.67 | $25.39 | $26.12 | $26.84 | $27.57 | $28.29 |
| GS-6 | $24.26 | $25.07 | $25.88 | $26.69 | $27.49 | $28.30 | $29.11 | $29.92 | $30.73 | $31.54 |
| GS-7 | $26.96 | $27.86 | $28.76 | $29.65 | $30.55 | $31.45 | $32.35 | $33.25 | $34.15 | $35.05 |
| GS-8 | $29.86 | $30.85 | $31.85 | $32.84 | $33.84 | $34.83 | $35.83 | $36.82 | $37.82 | $38.81 |
| GS-9 | $32.98 | $34.07 | $35.17 | $36.27 | $37.37 | $38.47 | $39.57 | $40.67 | $41.77 | $42.87 |
| GS-10 | $36.31 | $37.52 | $38.73 | $39.94 | $41.15 | $42.36 | $43.57 | $44.78 | $45.99 | $47.20 |
| GS-11 | $39.90 | $41.23 | $42.56 | $43.89 | $45.22 | $46.55 | $47.88 | $49.21 | $50.54 | $51.87 |
| GS-12 | $47.82 | $49.41 | $51.01 | $52.60 | $54.20 | $55.79 | $57.38 | $58.98 | $60.57 | $62.17 |
| GS-13 | $56.86 | $58.76 | $60.66 | $62.55 | $64.45 | $66.34 | $68.24 | $70.13 | $72.03 | $73.92 |
| GS-14 | $67.20 | $69.44 | $71.68 | $73.92 | $76.16 | $78.40 | $80.64 | $82.88 | $85.12 | $87.36 |
| GS-15 | $79.04 | $81.67 | $84.31 | $86.94 | $89.58 | $92.21 | $94.49* | $94.49* | $94.49* | $94.49* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)).
Law enforcement officer (LEO) table, 2026
OPM's Salary Table 2026-DEN (LEO) applies the same 30.52% locality payment to the special base rates for law enforcement officers at grades 3 to 10: GS-3 step 1 is $43,401 for an LEO here against $36,164 on the GS table, and GS-10 step 1 is $78,311 against $75,785. Grades 1, 2 and 11 to 15 are the same figures as the GS table above, including the 4 GS-15 cells OPM limits to Executive Schedule level IV. Source: OPM, DEN (LEO).xml (37,074 bytes, SHA-256 070932fe29a6…), fetched .
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $29,477 | $30,465 | $31,445 | $32,421 | $33,399 | $33,972 | $34,942 | $35,918 | $35,958 | $36,869 |
| GS-2 | $33,143 | $33,931 | $35,030 | $35,958 | $36,360 | $37,429 | $38,498 | $39,567 | $40,636 | $41,705 |
| GS-3 | $43,401 | $44,607 | $45,813 | $47,019 | $48,225 | $49,431 | $50,637 | $51,843 | $53,049 | $54,255 |
| GS-4 | $48,717 | $50,070 | $51,424 | $52,777 | $54,131 | $55,484 | $56,838 | $58,191 | $59,545 | $60,898 |
| GS-5 | $56,018 | $57,532 | $59,046 | $60,560 | $62,074 | $63,588 | $65,102 | $66,616 | $68,130 | $69,644 |
| GS-6 | $59,068 | $60,756 | $62,443 | $64,131 | $65,819 | $67,506 | $69,194 | $70,881 | $72,569 | $74,257 |
| GS-7 | $63,764 | $65,640 | $67,515 | $69,391 | $71,267 | $73,142 | $75,018 | $76,893 | $78,769 | $80,644 |
| GS-8 | $66,461 | $68,537 | $70,614 | $72,691 | $74,767 | $76,844 | $78,920 | $80,997 | $83,073 | $85,150 |
| GS-9 | $71,114 | $73,408 | $75,703 | $77,997 | $80,292 | $82,587 | $84,881 | $87,176 | $89,470 | $91,765 |
| GS-10 | $78,311 | $80,836 | $83,362 | $85,887 | $88,413 | $90,939 | $93,464 | $95,990 | $98,515 | $101,041 |
| GS-11 | $83,265 | $86,041 | $88,818 | $91,594 | $94,370 | $97,146 | $99,922 | $102,698 | $105,475 | $108,251 |
| GS-12 | $99,800 | $103,126 | $106,453 | $109,780 | $113,107 | $116,434 | $119,761 | $123,088 | $126,415 | $129,742 |
| GS-13 | $118,675 | $122,631 | $126,587 | $130,543 | $134,500 | $138,456 | $142,412 | $146,368 | $150,324 | $154,280 |
| GS-14 | $140,239 | $144,914 | $149,589 | $154,264 | $158,939 | $163,615 | $168,290 | $172,965 | $177,640 | $182,316 |
| GS-15 | $164,956 | $170,455 | $175,954 | $181,453 | $186,952 | $192,450 | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)). Note: Locality rates for “law enforcement officers” (LEOs) (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103) are computed using special base rates for LEOs at grades 3 through 10, as authorized by section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as amended. The LEO annual locality rates at other grades match the rates for other (non-LEO) employees.
LEO hourly rates, 2026
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $14.12 | $14.60 | $15.07 | $15.53 | $16.00 | $16.28 | $16.74 | $17.21 | $17.23 | $17.67 |
| GS-2 | $15.88 | $16.26 | $16.78 | $17.23 | $17.42 | $17.93 | $18.45 | $18.96 | $19.47 | $19.98 |
| GS-3 | $20.80 | $21.37 | $21.95 | $22.53 | $23.11 | $23.69 | $24.26 | $24.84 | $25.42 | $26.00 |
| GS-4 | $23.34 | $23.99 | $24.64 | $25.29 | $25.94 | $26.59 | $27.23 | $27.88 | $28.53 | $29.18 |
| GS-5 | $26.84 | $27.57 | $28.29 | $29.02 | $29.74 | $30.47 | $31.19 | $31.92 | $32.64 | $33.37 |
| GS-6 | $28.30 | $29.11 | $29.92 | $30.73 | $31.54 | $32.35 | $33.15 | $33.96 | $34.77 | $35.58 |
| GS-7 | $30.55 | $31.45 | $32.35 | $33.25 | $34.15 | $35.05 | $35.95 | $36.84 | $37.74 | $38.64 |
| GS-8 | $31.85 | $32.84 | $33.84 | $34.83 | $35.83 | $36.82 | $37.82 | $38.81 | $39.80 | $40.80 |
| GS-9 | $34.07 | $35.17 | $36.27 | $37.37 | $38.47 | $39.57 | $40.67 | $41.77 | $42.87 | $43.97 |
| GS-10 | $37.52 | $38.73 | $39.94 | $41.15 | $42.36 | $43.57 | $44.78 | $45.99 | $47.20 | $48.41 |
| GS-11 | $39.90 | $41.23 | $42.56 | $43.89 | $45.22 | $46.55 | $47.88 | $49.21 | $50.54 | $51.87 |
| GS-12 | $47.82 | $49.41 | $51.01 | $52.60 | $54.20 | $55.79 | $57.38 | $58.98 | $60.57 | $62.17 |
| GS-13 | $56.86 | $58.76 | $60.66 | $62.55 | $64.45 | $66.34 | $68.24 | $70.13 | $72.03 | $73.92 |
| GS-14 | $67.20 | $69.44 | $71.68 | $73.92 | $76.16 | $78.40 | $80.64 | $82.88 | $85.12 | $87.36 |
| GS-15 | $79.04 | $81.67 | $84.31 | $86.94 | $89.58 | $92.21 | $94.49* | $94.49* | $94.49* | $94.49* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)). Note: Locality rates for “law enforcement officers” (LEOs) (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103) are computed using special base rates for LEOs at grades 3 through 10, as authorized by section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as amended. The LEO annual locality rates at other grades match the rates for other (non-LEO) employees.
What the area covers
OPM's definition lists 14 entries for this area, by state, with the FIPS code OPM prints. The area is a combined statistical area plus the adjacent counties OPM's pay agent added; it is not the same boundary as a BLS metropolitan area.
Colorado
- Adams County, CO (08001)
- Arapahoe County, CO (08005)
- Boulder County, CO (08013)
- Broomfield County, CO (08014)
- Clear Creek County, CO (08019)
- Denver County, CO (08031)
- Douglas County, CO (08035)
- Elbert County, CO (08039)
- Gilpin County, CO (08047)
- Jefferson County, CO (08059)
- Larimer County, CO (08069)
- Lincoln County, CO (08073)
- Park County, CO (08093)
- Weld County, CO (08123)
Wages outside government in the same places
- Colorado wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO metro profile (the BLS metropolitan area that shares this area's first-named city; boundaries differ).
Related
- All 58 locality pay areas and the base table.
- GS pay by locality and step on FastCalc for a particular grade and step; this site computes nothing.
- How federal GS pay works.