TL;DR
- OPM has not published 2027 GS pay tables. The President’s pay plan of August 26, 2026 keeps base and locality pay at 2026 rates, so the tables on this page are the ones a 2027 freeze would carry forward.
- Base pay runs from $22,584 at GS-1 step 1 to $164,301 at GS-15 step 10. Locality pay adds 17.06% to 46.34% across 58 areas, and no GS rate can pass $197,200.
- In the Rest of U.S. area, GS-5 step 1 pays $40,736 a year ($19.52 an hour), GS-7 pays $50,460 and GS-9 pays $61,722.
- GS-1 to GS-4 jobs have a nationwide special rate floor. Under it, GS-3 step 1 pays $17.47 an hour and GS-4 step 1 pays $17.82.
- Most seasonal park and forest jobs sit between GS-3 and GS-7. Wildland firefighters are on the GW scale and trail crews are usually Wage Grade.
- The final 2027 decision comes in an executive order. The last three were signed between December 18 and December 23.
The 2027 GS pay scale is, for now, the 2026 scale: the President’s August 26, 2026 pay plan sets no raise, and OPM has not issued new tables. This page shows every grade and step for all 58 locality areas, annual and hourly, and explains which rates seasonal outdoor jobs really pay.
What is the GS pay scale for 2027?
The GS pay scale for 2027 has 15 grades with 10 steps each, and under the President’s pay plan it keeps the 2026 rates: base pay from $22,584 at GS-1 step 1 to $164,301 at GS-15 step 10, before locality pay is added.
The General Schedule is the pay system for most white-collar federal civilian jobs. Each job is assigned a grade, and each grade has 10 steps that reward time in the job. Locality pay is then added for the area where the job is located.
The table below shows the base range for each grade, then what step 1 pays in the Rest of U.S. locality area, which covers every place outside the 57 named areas. That is where most national parks and national forests sit.
| Grade | Base pay, step 1 | Base pay, step 10 | Rest of U.S., step 1 | Hourly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $22,584 | $28,248 | $35,048* | $16.79 |
| GS-2 | $25,393 | $31,953 | $35,749* | $17.13 |
| GS-3 | $27,708 | $36,024 | $36,464* | $17.47 |
| GS-4 | $31,103 | $40,436 | $37,193* | $17.82 |
| GS-5 | $34,799 | $45,239 | $40,736 | $19.52 |
| GS-6 | $38,791 | $50,428 | $45,409 | $21.76 |
| GS-7 | $43,106 | $56,039 | $50,460 | $24.18 |
| GS-8 | $47,738 | $62,057 | $55,882 | $26.78 |
| GS-9 | $52,727 | $68,549 | $61,722 | $29.57 |
| GS-10 | $58,064 | $75,479 | $67,970 | $32.57 |
| GS-11 | $63,795 | $82,938 | $74,678 | $35.78 |
| GS-12 | $76,463 | $99,404 | $89,508 | $42.89 |
| GS-13 | $90,925 | $118,204 | $106,437 | $51.00 |
| GS-14 | $107,446 | $139,684 | $125,776 | $60.27 |
| GS-15 | $126,384 | $164,301 | $147,945 | $70.89 |
Source: OPM 2026 General Schedule base table and OPM special rate table 001M, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
*GS-1 to GS-4 step 1 jobs in the Rest of U.S. area are paid a nationwide special rate, which is higher than the locality rate. The section on GS-3, GS-4 and GS-5 hourly pay below explains how that works.
How much does locality pay add to GS pay?
Locality pay adds between 17.06% and 46.34% to GS base pay, depending on where the job is. The 2026 schedule has 58 locality areas: 55 metro areas, Alaska, Hawaii and the Rest of U.S., which has the lowest payment at 17.06%.
The highest payment is 46.34% in the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland area. Pick any area below to see its full table of 15 grades and 10 steps, and switch between annual and hourly pay.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $35,048† | $35,772† | $36,496† | $37,220† | $37,944† | $38,668† | $39,392† | $40,116† | $40,840† | $41,564† |
| GS-2 | $35,749† | $36,568† | $37,387† | $38,206† | $39,025† | $39,844† | $40,663† | $41,482† | $42,301† | $43,120† |
| GS-3 | $36,464† | $37,388† | $38,312† | $39,236† | $40,160† | $41,084† | $42,008† | $42,932† | $43,856† | $44,780† |
| GS-4 | $37,193† | $38,230† | $39,267† | $40,304† | $41,341† | $42,479 | $43,693 | $44,907 | $46,120 | $47,334 |
| GS-5 | $40,736 | $42,094 | $43,452 | $44,809 | $46,167 | $47,525 | $48,883 | $50,241 | $51,599 | $52,957 |
| GS-6 | $45,409 | $46,922 | $48,436 | $49,950 | $51,463 | $52,977 | $54,490 | $56,004 | $57,517 | $59,031 |
| GS-7 | $50,460 | $52,142 | $53,824 | $55,506 | $57,188 | $58,871 | $60,553 | $62,235 | $63,917 | $65,599 |
| GS-8 | $55,882 | $57,745 | $59,607 | $61,469 | $63,332 | $65,194 | $67,057 | $68,919 | $70,781 | $72,644 |
| GS-9 | $61,722 | $63,780 | $65,838 | $67,896 | $69,954 | $72,012 | $74,070 | $76,128 | $78,186 | $80,243 |
| GS-10 | $67,970 | $70,235 | $72,500 | $74,765 | $77,030 | $79,295 | $81,560 | $83,825 | $86,091 | $88,356 |
| GS-11 | $74,678 | $77,168 | $79,658 | $82,148 | $84,638 | $87,128 | $89,618 | $92,107 | $94,597 | $97,087 |
| GS-12 | $89,508 | $92,491 | $95,475 | $98,459 | $101,443 | $104,427 | $107,411 | $110,395 | $113,378 | $116,362 |
| GS-13 | $106,437 | $109,985 | $113,533 | $117,081 | $120,629 | $124,177 | $127,725 | $131,273 | $134,822 | $138,370 |
| GS-14 | $125,776 | $129,969 | $134,162 | $138,356 | $142,549 | $146,742 | $150,935 | $155,128 | $159,321 | $163,514 |
| GS-15 | $147,945 | $152,877 | $157,809 | $162,740 | $167,672 | $172,604 | $177,536 | $182,467 | $187,399 | $192,331 |
* Held at $197,200, the 2026 cap on GS pay with locality (Executive Schedule level IV).
† Nationwide special rate for GS-1 to GS-4 (OPM special rate table 001M). It replaces the locality rate at any U.S. worksite where the locality rate is lower.
Source: OPM, 2026 General Schedule pay tables and OPM special rate table 001M, accessed Nov 9, 2026. Rates took effect in January 2026.
Locality pay is worked out by multiplying base pay by the area’s percentage and rounding to the nearest dollar. One limit applies everywhere: a GS rate with locality pay cannot be more than $197,200, the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule.
These are the areas that hold the most park, forest and public land jobs, plus the largest cities for comparison. All figures are step 1.
| Locality area | Locality payment | GS-5 | GS-7 | GS-9 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $40,736 | $50,460 | $61,722 |
| Alaska | 32.36% | $46,060 | $57,055 | $69,789 |
| Hawaii | 22.21% | $42,528 | $52,680 | $64,438 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $41,178 | $51,007 | $62,392 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $41,609 | $51,542 | $63,046 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $42,611 | $52,783 | $64,564 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $43,892 | $54,370 | $66,505 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $45,155 | $55,934 | $68,419 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $45,420 | $56,262 | $68,819 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $45,785 | $56,715 | $69,373 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $46,137 | $57,150 | $69,905 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $46,533 | $57,641 | $70,507 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $46,610 | $57,736 | $70,623 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $47,490 | $58,827 | $71,957 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $48,005 | $59,465 | $72,737 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $50,925 | $63,081 | $77,161 |
Source: OPM 2026 General Schedule locality pay tables, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
The area depends on where the job is, not where you live. OPM’s locality pay area definitions list the counties in each one. A seasonal job in Yellowstone or the Kaibab National Forest falls in the Rest of U.S. area.
Will federal employees get a raise in 2027?
Not under the current plan. On August 26, 2026 the President sent Congress an alternative pay plan that says “for 2027, base pay and locality pay for civilian Federal employees will not change from the 2026 rates.” Unless a law says otherwise, that freeze takes effect in January 2027.
The same letter states what would have happened without the plan. Base pay would have gone up 3.1%, and locality payments would have risen by an average of 20.6%. The plan replaces both increases with none.
A bill in Congress asks for more. The FAIR Act, H.R. 7480, was introduced on February 10, 2026 and would raise base pay 3.1% and locality pay by an average of 1%, or 4.1% in total. As of November 9, 2026 it has not become law.
The final word comes in an executive order that sets the pay rates, and OPM publishes the new tables after it is signed. The pattern of the last three years points to the second half of December.
| Pay year | Executive order | Date signed |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Executive Order 14113 | December 21, 2023 |
| 2025 | Executive Order 14132 | December 23, 2024 |
| 2026 | Executive Order 14368 (1.0% base raise, locality unchanged) | December 18, 2025 |
| 2027 | Not yet issued | Expected in the second half of December 2026 |
Source: Federal Register and White House texts of each order, linked in the table, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
Any 2027 change would start with the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2027. We will replace the tables on this page when OPM publishes the 2027 schedule. To test a raise yourself, use the GS pay calculator.
What GS grade are seasonal park and forest jobs?
Most seasonal park and forest jobs are graded GS-3 to GS-7. The National Park Service says entry-level grades for its temporary seasonal positions “generally range from the GS-4 to GS-7,” and Forest Service seasonal technician jobs are mostly GS-3 to GS-5.
| Job | Series | Usual seasonal grades | Step 1 hourly, Rest of U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry Aid | GS-0462 | GS-3 | $17.47 |
| Forestry Technician | GS-0462 | GS-4 to GS-5 | $17.82 to $19.52 |
| Park Guide | GS-0090 | GS-4 to GS-5 | $17.82 to $19.52 |
| Biological Science Technician | GS-0404 | GS-4 | $17.82 |
| Park Ranger (Interpretation) | GS-0025 | GS-5 to GS-7 | $19.52 to $24.18 |
Source: Grades from the National Park Service, the Kaibab National Forest 2026 seasonal hiring page and USAJOBS announcements listed in Sources. Hourly rates computed from OPM’s 2026 tables, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
For the technician series, OPM’s qualification standard sets what each grade takes. GS-2 needs three months of experience or a high school diploma. GS-3 needs six months of experience or one year of study past high school.
GS-4 needs six months of general plus six months of specialized experience, or two years of study past high school. GS-5 needs one year of specialized experience at the GS-4 level or a four-year degree. Park Ranger jobs in the 0025 series follow a different standard.
Seasonal announcements often read “not to exceed 1,039 hours.” That is just under 26 weeks at 40 hours a week. At the GS-5 step 1 Rest of U.S. rate, 1,039 hours comes to about $20,281 before overtime.
Three kinds of outdoor federal jobs are not on the GS scale at all. Wildland firefighters moved to their own GW pay scale in 2025. Trail maintenance workers are usually Wage Grade, paid from local wage schedules. Emergency fire hires are paid under the AD pay plan.
For how and when these jobs open, see our guides to Forest Service seasonal jobs and National Park Service seasonal jobs, or browse current park ranger jobs and Forest Service jobs.
What do GS-3, GS-4 and GS-5 pay per hour?
In the Rest of U.S. area, step 1 pays $17.47 an hour at GS-3, $17.82 at GS-4 and $19.52 at GS-5. The GS-3 and GS-4 figures are higher than the locality table shows, because a nationwide special rate applies to the four lowest grades.
OPM’s special rate table 001M covers GS-1 to GS-4 employees at U.S. worksites. OPM says a 001M rate “applies in place of any corresponding locality rate or other applicable special rate that is lower than the table 001M special rate.” In short, you get whichever is higher.
| Grade, step 1 | Rest of U.S. locality rate | Special rate 001M | Hourly rate paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $26,437 ($12.67) | $35,048 ($16.79) | $16.79 |
| GS-2 | $29,725 ($14.24) | $35,749 ($17.13) | $17.13 |
| GS-3 | $32,435 ($15.54) | $36,464 ($17.47) | $17.47 |
| GS-4 | $36,409 ($17.45) | $37,193 ($17.82) | $17.82 |
| GS-5 | $40,736 ($19.52) | None | $19.52 |
Source: OPM special rate table 001M (2026) and the OPM 2026 Rest of U.S. locality table, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
The special rate only matters where locality pay is low. In Alaska, GS-3 step 1 pays $36,674 with locality pay, which beats the $36,464 special rate, so the locality rate applies. The table above on this page marks every lifted rate with a dagger.
One caution. Two National Park Service announcements from October 2026 list GS-4 pay from $17.45 an hour, the locality table figure, not $17.82. Before you accept a GS-1 to GS-4 offer, ask the hiring office which rate it will pay.
How do you turn a GS salary into hourly and overtime pay?
Divide the annual rate by 2,087 and round to the nearest cent. That is the hourly rate federal payroll uses. Multiply the hourly rate by 80 for biweekly pay. GS-5 step 1 in the Rest of U.S. area works out to $19.52 an hour and $1,561.60 every two weeks.
Overtime is one and a half times the hourly rate for employees paid at or below GS-10 step 1. For GS-5 step 1 that is $29.28 an hour. Above that level, overtime is the higher of the employee’s own hourly rate or one and a half times the GS-10 step 1 rate.
A GS-12 step 1 employee in the Rest of U.S. area earns $89,508 a year, or $42.89 an hour. Their overtime rate is $48.86, which is one and a half times the GS-10 step 1 rate of $32.57.
That limit comes from Title 5 and matters mainly for higher graded staff. Employees covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, which includes most seasonal field staff, earn time and a half of their regular rate. The GS pay calculator does this maths for any grade and area.
How do GS step increases work?
GS employees in permanent positions move up one step after a set waiting period, as long as their work is acceptable. The wait is one year for each of the first three increases, two years for the next three and three years for the last three.
| Moving to | Waiting period at the step before | Total time |
|---|---|---|
| Steps 2, 3 and 4 | 52 weeks each | 3 years |
| Steps 5, 6 and 7 | 104 weeks each | 6 years |
| Steps 8, 9 and 10 | 156 weeks each | 9 years |
Source: OPM fact sheet on within-grade increases, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
Going from step 1 to step 10 in one grade takes 18 years. At GS-5 in the Rest of U.S. area that is the difference between $40,736 and $52,957 a year.
Step increases do not apply to short temporary jobs. OPM’s rule covers employees in permanent positions, and temporary appointments limited to one year or less are not eligible. A seasonal hired at step 1 each summer on a temporary appointment stays at step 1.
Permanent seasonal positions are different. They are permanent jobs with a planned unpaid break each year, so they can earn step increases. For the path from temporary to permanent work, see our guide to trail crew jobs.
Frequently asked questions
When will the 2027 GS pay tables come out?
OPM publishes the tables after the President signs the yearly pay order. The last three orders were signed on December 21, 2023, December 23, 2024 and December 18, 2025, so expect the 2027 order and tables in the second half of December 2026.
Is the 2027 GS pay scale the same as 2026?
Under the President’s pay plan of August 26, 2026, yes. The plan says base pay and locality pay “will not change from the 2026 rates.” That could still change if a law sets a raise before the pay order is signed, but none has passed as of November 9, 2026.
What is the highest GS pay?
GS-15 step 10 is the top of the scale. Base pay there is $164,301, and in the Rest of U.S. area it is $192,331. In higher cost areas the rate stops at the $197,200 limit, which is the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule.
Are wildland firefighters paid on the GS scale?
No. Federal wildland firefighters moved to a separate scale with GW grades, effective March 23, 2025. See our GW pay scale guide for those tables.
Do seasonal federal employees get locality pay?
Yes. Locality pay depends on where the job is, not on whether it is permanent or seasonal. The $19.52 hourly rate that appears in many GS-5 seasonal announcements is the Rest of U.S. locality rate for step 1.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 General Schedule (GS) Locality Pay Tables, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-GS (base rates), accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-RUS (Rest of U.S.), accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 Locality Pay Area Definitions, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Special Rate Table 001M, effective January 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, 2026 General Schedule (GS) Salary Calculator, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-EX (Executive Schedule), accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- The White House, Executive Order 14368, Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay, December 18, 2025, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, January 2026 Pay Adjustments (CPM 2025-18), accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, House Document 119-189, Alternative Plan for Pay Adjustments for Civilian Federal Employees, August 26, 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Government Publishing Office, H.R. 7480, FAIR Act, as introduced, February 10, 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- Federal Register, Executive Order 14132, signed December 23, 2024, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- Federal Register, Executive Order 14113, signed December 21, 2023, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Fact Sheet: Computing Hourly Rates of Pay Using the 2,087-Hour Divisor, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Fact Sheet: Overtime Pay (Title 5), accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Fact Sheet: Within-Grade Increases, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Group Coverage Qualification Standard for Technical and Medical Support Positions, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Wage System overview, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, 5 U.S.C. 5332a, Special base rates of pay for wildland firefighters, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- National Park Service, Great Basin National Park, Work With Us, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- USDA Forest Service, Kaibab National Forest, 2026 Seasonal Hiring, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- USAJOBS, Park Ranger (Interpretation), GS-0025-5/7, October 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- USAJOBS, Park Guide, GS-0090-4/5, October 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- USAJOBS, Biological Science Technician, GS-0404-4, October 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.
- USAJOBS, Forestry Technician, GS-0462-5, September 2026, accessed Nov 9, 2026.