2026 GS pay in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay area
In 2026, General Schedule employees in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality pay area receive a locality payment of 33.94% on top of base pay, the 5th highest of OPM's 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 is $102,415 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-DCB (XML, SHA-256 5401a7f44fcd…) and locality pay area definitions, fetched .
At a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| OPM table code | DCB |
| Locality payment, 2026 | 33.94% (rank 5 of 58) |
| GS-5 step 1 | $46,610 a year, $22.33 an hour |
| GS-9 step 1 | $70,623 a year, $33.84 an hour |
| GS-13 step 1 | $121,785 a year, $58.35 an hour |
| Cells at the statutory cap | 5 (GS-15; $197,200) |
| States in the area | DC, MD, VA, WV, PA |
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 | $30,249 | $31,263 | $32,269 | $33,271 | $34,274 | $34,862 | $35,857 | $36,859 | $36,900 | $37,835 |
| GS-2 | $34,011 | $34,820 | $35,948 | $36,900 | $37,313 | $38,410 | $39,507 | $40,604 | $41,701 | $42,798 |
| GS-3 | $37,112 | $38,350 | $39,587 | $40,825 | $42,063 | $43,300 | $44,538 | $45,775 | $47,013 | $48,251 |
| GS-4 | $41,659 | $43,048 | $44,437 | $45,826 | $47,215 | $48,604 | $49,993 | $51,382 | $52,771 | $54,160 |
| GS-5 | $46,610 | $48,163 | $49,717 | $51,271 | $52,825 | $54,378 | $55,932 | $57,486 | $59,039 | $60,593 |
| GS-6 | $51,957 | $53,689 | $55,420 | $57,152 | $58,884 | $60,616 | $62,348 | $64,080 | $65,811 | $67,543 |
| GS-7 | $57,736 | $59,661 | $61,586 | $63,510 | $65,435 | $67,360 | $69,284 | $71,209 | $73,134 | $75,059 |
| GS-8 | $63,940 | $66,071 | $68,202 | $70,333 | $72,464 | $74,595 | $76,726 | $78,857 | $80,988 | $83,119 |
| GS-9 | $70,623 | $72,977 | $75,332 | $77,687 | $80,041 | $82,396 | $84,751 | $87,105 | $89,460 | $91,815 |
| GS-10 | $77,771 | $80,363 | $82,954 | $85,546 | $88,138 | $90,730 | $93,321 | $95,913 | $98,505 | $101,097 |
| GS-11 | $85,447 | $88,296 | $91,145 | $93,994 | $96,843 | $99,692 | $102,540 | $105,389 | $108,238 | $111,087 |
| GS-12 | $102,415 | $105,829 | $109,243 | $112,657 | $116,071 | $119,485 | $122,899 | $126,313 | $129,728 | $133,142 |
| GS-13 | $121,785 | $125,845 | $129,904 | $133,964 | $138,024 | $142,084 | $146,143 | $150,203 | $154,263 | $158,322 |
| GS-14 | $143,913 | $148,711 | $153,509 | $158,306 | $163,104 | $167,902 | $172,700 | $177,497 | $182,295 | $187,093 |
| GS-15 | $169,279 | $174,922 | $180,565 | $186,207 | $191,850 | $197,200* | $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 | $14.49 | $14.98 | $15.46 | $15.94 | $16.42 | $16.70 | $17.18 | $17.66 | $17.68 | $18.13 |
| GS-2 | $16.30 | $16.68 | $17.22 | $17.68 | $17.88 | $18.40 | $18.93 | $19.46 | $19.98 | $20.51 |
| GS-3 | $17.78 | $18.38 | $18.97 | $19.56 | $20.15 | $20.75 | $21.34 | $21.93 | $22.53 | $23.12 |
| GS-4 | $19.96 | $20.63 | $21.29 | $21.96 | $22.62 | $23.29 | $23.95 | $24.62 | $25.29 | $25.95 |
| GS-5 | $22.33 | $23.08 | $23.82 | $24.57 | $25.31 | $26.06 | $26.80 | $27.54 | $28.29 | $29.03 |
| GS-6 | $24.90 | $25.73 | $26.55 | $27.38 | $28.21 | $29.04 | $29.87 | $30.70 | $31.53 | $32.36 |
| GS-7 | $27.66 | $28.59 | $29.51 | $30.43 | $31.35 | $32.28 | $33.20 | $34.12 | $35.04 | $35.97 |
| GS-8 | $30.64 | $31.66 | $32.68 | $33.70 | $34.72 | $35.74 | $36.76 | $37.78 | $38.81 | $39.83 |
| GS-9 | $33.84 | $34.97 | $36.10 | $37.22 | $38.35 | $39.48 | $40.61 | $41.74 | $42.87 | $43.99 |
| GS-10 | $37.26 | $38.51 | $39.75 | $40.99 | $42.23 | $43.47 | $44.72 | $45.96 | $47.20 | $48.44 |
| GS-11 | $40.94 | $42.31 | $43.67 | $45.04 | $46.40 | $47.77 | $49.13 | $50.50 | $51.86 | $53.23 |
| GS-12 | $49.07 | $50.71 | $52.34 | $53.98 | $55.62 | $57.25 | $58.89 | $60.52 | $62.16 | $63.80 |
| GS-13 | $58.35 | $60.30 | $62.24 | $64.19 | $66.14 | $68.08 | $70.03 | $71.97 | $73.92 | $75.86 |
| GS-14 | $68.96 | $71.26 | $73.55 | $75.85 | $78.15 | $80.45 | $82.75 | $85.05 | $87.35 | $89.65 |
| GS-15 | $81.11 | $83.82 | $86.52 | $89.22 | $91.93 | $94.49* | $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-DCB (LEO) applies the same 33.94% locality payment to the special base rates for law enforcement officers at grades 3 to 10: GS-3 step 1 is $44,538 for an LEO here against $37,112 on the GS table, and GS-10 step 1 is $80,363 against $77,771. Grades 1, 2 and 11 to 15 are the same figures as the GS table above, including the 5 GS-15 cells OPM limits to Executive Schedule level IV. Source: OPM, DCB (LEO).xml (37,134 bytes, SHA-256 0e9b40298779…), fetched .
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $30,249 | $31,263 | $32,269 | $33,271 | $34,274 | $34,862 | $35,857 | $36,859 | $36,900 | $37,835 |
| GS-2 | $34,011 | $34,820 | $35,948 | $36,900 | $37,313 | $38,410 | $39,507 | $40,604 | $41,701 | $42,798 |
| GS-3 | $44,538 | $45,775 | $47,013 | $48,251 | $49,488 | $50,726 | $51,963 | $53,201 | $54,439 | $55,676 |
| GS-4 | $49,993 | $51,382 | $52,771 | $54,160 | $55,549 | $56,938 | $58,327 | $59,716 | $61,105 | $62,494 |
| GS-5 | $57,486 | $59,039 | $60,593 | $62,147 | $63,701 | $65,254 | $66,808 | $68,362 | $69,915 | $71,469 |
| GS-6 | $60,616 | $62,348 | $64,080 | $65,811 | $67,543 | $69,275 | $71,007 | $72,739 | $74,471 | $76,202 |
| GS-7 | $65,435 | $67,360 | $69,284 | $71,209 | $73,134 | $75,059 | $76,983 | $78,908 | $80,833 | $82,758 |
| GS-8 | $68,202 | $70,333 | $72,464 | $74,595 | $76,726 | $78,857 | $80,988 | $83,119 | $85,250 | $87,381 |
| GS-9 | $72,977 | $75,332 | $77,687 | $80,041 | $82,396 | $84,751 | $87,105 | $89,460 | $91,815 | $94,169 |
| GS-10 | $80,363 | $82,954 | $85,546 | $88,138 | $90,730 | $93,321 | $95,913 | $98,505 | $101,097 | $103,688 |
| GS-11 | $85,447 | $88,296 | $91,145 | $93,994 | $96,843 | $99,692 | $102,540 | $105,389 | $108,238 | $111,087 |
| GS-12 | $102,415 | $105,829 | $109,243 | $112,657 | $116,071 | $119,485 | $122,899 | $126,313 | $129,728 | $133,142 |
| GS-13 | $121,785 | $125,845 | $129,904 | $133,964 | $138,024 | $142,084 | $146,143 | $150,203 | $154,263 | $158,322 |
| GS-14 | $143,913 | $148,711 | $153,509 | $158,306 | $163,104 | $167,902 | $172,700 | $177,497 | $182,295 | $187,093 |
| GS-15 | $169,279 | $174,922 | $180,565 | $186,207 | $191,850 | $197,200* | $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 | $14.49 | $14.98 | $15.46 | $15.94 | $16.42 | $16.70 | $17.18 | $17.66 | $17.68 | $18.13 |
| GS-2 | $16.30 | $16.68 | $17.22 | $17.68 | $17.88 | $18.40 | $18.93 | $19.46 | $19.98 | $20.51 |
| GS-3 | $21.34 | $21.93 | $22.53 | $23.12 | $23.71 | $24.31 | $24.90 | $25.49 | $26.08 | $26.68 |
| GS-4 | $23.95 | $24.62 | $25.29 | $25.95 | $26.62 | $27.28 | $27.95 | $28.61 | $29.28 | $29.94 |
| GS-5 | $27.54 | $28.29 | $29.03 | $29.78 | $30.52 | $31.27 | $32.01 | $32.76 | $33.50 | $34.24 |
| GS-6 | $29.04 | $29.87 | $30.70 | $31.53 | $32.36 | $33.19 | $34.02 | $34.85 | $35.68 | $36.51 |
| GS-7 | $31.35 | $32.28 | $33.20 | $34.12 | $35.04 | $35.97 | $36.89 | $37.81 | $38.73 | $39.65 |
| GS-8 | $32.68 | $33.70 | $34.72 | $35.74 | $36.76 | $37.78 | $38.81 | $39.83 | $40.85 | $41.87 |
| GS-9 | $34.97 | $36.10 | $37.22 | $38.35 | $39.48 | $40.61 | $41.74 | $42.87 | $43.99 | $45.12 |
| GS-10 | $38.51 | $39.75 | $40.99 | $42.23 | $43.47 | $44.72 | $45.96 | $47.20 | $48.44 | $49.68 |
| GS-11 | $40.94 | $42.31 | $43.67 | $45.04 | $46.40 | $47.77 | $49.13 | $50.50 | $51.86 | $53.23 |
| GS-12 | $49.07 | $50.71 | $52.34 | $53.98 | $55.62 | $57.25 | $58.89 | $60.52 | $62.16 | $63.80 |
| GS-13 | $58.35 | $60.30 | $62.24 | $64.19 | $66.14 | $68.08 | $70.03 | $71.97 | $73.92 | $75.86 |
| GS-14 | $68.96 | $71.26 | $73.55 | $75.85 | $78.15 | $80.45 | $82.75 | $85.05 | $87.35 | $89.65 |
| GS-15 | $81.11 | $83.82 | $86.52 | $89.22 | $91.93 | $94.49* | $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 55 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.
District of Columbia
- District of Columbia, DC (11001)
Maryland
- Allegany County, MD (24001)
- Anne Arundel County, MD (24003)
- Baltimore County, MD (24005)
- Calvert County, MD (24009)
- Caroline County, MD (24011)
- Carroll County, MD (24013)
- Charles County, MD (24017)
- Dorchester County, MD (24019)
- Frederick County, MD (24021)
- Harford County, MD (24025)
- Howard County, MD (24027)
- Kent County, MD (24029)
- Montgomery County, MD (24031)
- Prince George's County, MD (24033)
- Queen Anne's County, MD (24035)
- St. Mary's County, MD (24037)
- Talbot County, MD (24041)
- Washington County, MD (24043)
- Baltimore city, MD (24510)
Virginia
- Arlington County, VA (51013)
- Caroline County, VA (51033)
- Clarke County, VA (51043)
- Culpeper County, VA (51047)
- Fairfax County, VA (51059)
- Fauquier County, VA (51061)
- Frederick County, VA (51069)
- King George County, VA (51099)
- Loudoun County, VA (51107)
- Madison County, VA (51113)
- Orange County, VA (51137)
- Prince William County, VA (51153)
- Rappahannock County, VA (51157)
- Shenandoah County, VA (51171)
- Spotsylvania County, VA (51177)
- Stafford County, VA (51179)
- Warren County, VA (51187)
- Westmoreland County, VA (51193)
- Alexandria city, VA (51510)
- Fairfax city, VA (51600)
- Falls Church city, VA (51610)
- Fredericksburg city, VA (51630)
- Manassas city, VA (51683)
- Manassas Park city, VA (51685)
- Winchester city, VA (51840)
West Virginia
- Berkeley County, WV (54003)
- Hampshire County, WV (54027)
- Hardy County, WV (54031)
- Jefferson County, WV (54037)
- Mineral County, WV (54057)
- Morgan County, WV (54065)
Pennsylvania
- Adams County, PA (42001)
- Franklin County, PA (42055)
- Fulton County, PA (42057)
- York County, PA (42133)
Wages outside government in the same places
- District of Columbia wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Maryland wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Virginia wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- West Virginia wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Pennsylvania wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV 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.