GS locality pay is a geographic adjustment that affects the basic salary of eligible federal employees based on their official duty station. This guide explains how 2026 locality pay works, how locality areas affect GS salaries, and why employees with the same GS grade and step can receive different basic pay in different parts of the USA.
GS locality pay is a geographic adjustment included in the General Schedule basic pay rate for eligible federal employees. The applicable locality rate depends primarily on the employee's official duty station and designated locality pay area. In 2026, locality payments range substantially between different federal pay areas.
2026 locality payment for the Rest of the U.S. locality pay area.
2026 locality payment for the New York-Newark locality pay area.
2026 locality payment for the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland locality area.
The 2026 General Schedule tables incorporate a 1% government-wide GS increase before the applicable locality adjustment.
Locality pay is determined by the employee's applicable locality pay area, which is generally based on the official duty station. The locality percentage is incorporated into the applicable OPM salary table rather than being treated as a separate bonus paid after the published locality-adjusted salary.
Federal employees receive an annual basic pay rate based on their GS grade, step and applicable locality adjustment. Monthly, weekly and hourly figures can be calculated from that annual rate, but actual payroll amounts may vary because of pay schedules, deductions and other federal compensation rules.
| Salary Measure | How Locality-Adjusted GS Pay Is Represented |
|---|---|
| Annual GS Salary | The annual basic pay rate after the applicable locality adjustment is included. |
| Monthly Salary Equivalent | The locality-adjusted annual salary divided by 12 for an estimated monthly equivalent. |
| Weekly Salary Equivalent | The locality-adjusted annual salary divided by 52 for an estimated weekly equivalent. |
| Hourly Salary Equivalent | An estimated hourly equivalent calculated from the applicable annual basic pay using standard federal work-year assumptions. |
| Take-Home Pay | The amount remaining after applicable federal and state taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums and other payroll deductions. |
GS locality pay in USA is a geographic salary adjustment added to the standard General Schedule base rate for eligible federal employees. It is designed to account for differences in federal labor-market conditions across different geographic areas.
A federal employee's basic pay can therefore be higher than the standard General Schedule base salary shown in the nationwide pay table. The applicable locality rate depends primarily on the employee's official duty station.
| Pay Component | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| GS Base Pay | The standard General Schedule salary determined by the employee's grade and step before locality adjustment. |
| Locality Adjustment | A geographic percentage adjustment associated with the employee's applicable locality pay area. |
| Locality-Adjusted Basic Pay | The employee's basic pay after the applicable locality adjustment is included. |
| Special Salary Rate | A separately authorized rate that may apply to certain occupations, locations or federal employee groups. |
For example, the standard 2026 GS-12 Step 1 base salary is $85,216 before locality pay. An eligible employee assigned to a locality area can receive a higher basic salary after the applicable locality adjustment is applied.
Locality pay is not a separate bonus or one-time payment. It is incorporated into the applicable basic pay rate for eligible General Schedule employees. The exact rate depends on the employee's official duty station and applicable federal pay rules.
GS locality pay in USA works by applying an approved geographic adjustment to the employee's standard General Schedule base rate. The employee's grade and step establish the underlying base salary, while the applicable locality area determines the geographic adjustment.
This means two federal employees with the same GS grade and step can have different basic salaries when their official duty stations fall within different locality pay areas.
| Step | How GS Locality Pay Works |
|---|---|
| 1. GS Grade | The employee's position is assigned a General Schedule grade based on the level and complexity of the position. |
| 2. GS Step | The employee's step determines the applicable base salary within that GS grade. |
| 3. Duty Station | The employee's official duty station determines the applicable locality pay area in most cases. |
| 4. Locality Adjustment | The applicable locality percentage is used to determine the employee's locality-adjusted basic pay. |
| 5. Basic Pay | The resulting locality-adjusted amount becomes the employee's applicable basic pay, subject to federal pay rules and limitations. |
Locality pay can create a significant difference between the standard GS base rate and the salary actually applicable to an employee's duty station. For this reason, a GS salary figure without its locality adjustment may not represent the employee's full basic pay rate.
For example, a GS-15 Step 10 employee has a standard 2026 base salary of $164,301 before locality pay. The applicable locality adjustment can result in a higher basic salary depending on the employee's official duty station.
Locality pay is generally based on the employee's official duty station, not simply the employee's home address or state of residence. The applicable OPM locality table should be checked for the specific duty station.
GS locality pay areas in the USA are geographic areas used to determine the locality adjustment that applies to eligible General Schedule employees. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes locality pay tables and area definitions for the applicable geographic regions.
The locality system recognizes differences in federal labor-market conditions between major metropolitan areas and other parts of the country. As a result, employees with the same GS grade and step can receive different basic pay depending on the locality area covering their official duty station.
| Locality Pay Category | How It Affects GS Pay |
|---|---|
| Major Metropolitan Locality Area | Employees whose official duty stations fall within a designated metropolitan locality area receive the applicable geographic adjustment for that area. |
| Other Defined Locality Areas | Certain geographic regions have their own locality pay percentages based on federal locality definitions. |
| Rest of U.S. | Employees whose duty stations are not covered by a separate locality pay area generally fall under the Rest of U.S. locality rate. |
For example, the standard 2026 GS-12 Step 1 base salary is $85,216 before locality pay. The final locality-adjusted basic pay depends on the locality area assigned to the employee's official duty station.
Locality pay areas are defined by federal rules and may not correspond exactly to state boundaries. Always use the current OPM locality definitions to determine the applicable area for a specific duty station.
GS locality areas in the USA are established under federal pay rules to reflect geographic differences in labor-market conditions. OPM uses defined locality boundaries to determine which locality pay percentage applies to an employee's official duty station.
A locality area can include a central metropolitan region together with surrounding counties or other geographic areas that meet the applicable federal criteria. The boundaries are therefore not necessarily identical to city or state borders.
| Factor | Role in Locality Definition |
|---|---|
| Geographic Location | The employee's official duty station is matched to the applicable locality area. |
| Labor-Market Conditions | Locality pay is designed to account for differences in federal and non-federal labor-market conditions across geographic areas. |
| Metropolitan Boundaries | Some locality areas are based on designated metropolitan regions and associated geographic boundaries. |
| Federal Definitions | OPM publishes the official locality area definitions used to administer General Schedule locality pay. |
| Annual Pay Tables | The applicable locality percentage is published as part of the annual federal pay tables. |
If you are unsure which locality applies to a federal position, check the current OPM locality pay area definitions using the position's official duty station.
The Rest of U.S. locality pay area covers eligible General Schedule employees whose official duty stations are not included in one of the separately defined locality pay areas.
Rest of U.S. does not mean that an employee receives only the nationwide GS base rate. Eligible employees covered by the Rest of U.S. area receive the locality adjustment established for that locality area.
| Pay Level | What Applies |
|---|---|
| GS Base Rate | The standard General Schedule grade-and-step rate before locality adjustment. |
| Rest of U.S. Locality Rate | The locality adjustment applicable to eligible duty stations covered by the Rest of U.S. locality area. |
| Final Basic Pay | The applicable basic pay after the Rest of U.S. locality adjustment is included, subject to federal pay limitations. |
The Rest of U.S. locality rate can therefore make an employee's basic salary higher than the standard nationwide GS base rate. For comparison, the 2026 GS-15 Step 10 standard base rate is $164,301 before any locality adjustment.
Rest of U.S. is itself a locality pay area. It should not be confused with receiving no locality adjustment. The applicable OPM pay table should be used to determine the current Rest of U.S. rate.
The official duty station matters because GS locality pay is generally determined by the geographic location where the federal employee officially performs their work. The employee's home address alone does not normally determine the applicable locality pay area.
This can be especially important for employees who live outside the locality area where their federal position is officially assigned. The locality associated with the duty station is generally the key factor used to identify the applicable geographic adjustment.
| Situation | Locality Pay Consideration |
|---|---|
| Same GS Grade and Step, Different Duty Stations | Employees can have different basic pay when their duty stations are covered by different locality areas. |
| Employee Lives Outside Duty-Station Area | The employee's official duty station generally remains the key factor for determining locality pay. |
| Employee Changes Duty Station | A change in official duty station can change the locality area and therefore the applicable locality-adjusted basic pay. |
| Remote or Special Work Arrangements | Applicable locality treatment can depend on the employee's official duty station and the federal rules governing the position. |
Suppose two federal employees are both GS-12 Step 1. The standard 2026 base salary for that grade and step is $85,216. If their official duty stations fall under different locality areas, their locality-adjusted basic pay can differ even though their GS grade and step are identical.
When checking GS locality pay in the USA, identify the employee's official duty station first, then use the corresponding OPM locality pay table. Do not determine locality pay solely from the employee's home address or state of residence.
The 2026 GS locality pay system adds a geographic pay adjustment to the General Schedule base rate for eligible federal employees. The applicable locality percentage depends on the employee's official duty station and locality pay area.
For 2026, the General Schedule received a 1% nationwide increase, while locality percentages vary by geographic area. OPM publishes a separate salary table for each locality pay area.
| 2026 Locality Area | Locality Payment | Example Official OPM Table |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA | 46.34% | 2026-SF |
| New York–Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | 2026-NY |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | 2026-LA |
| Washington–Baltimore–Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | 2026-DCB |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | 2026-RUS |
These percentages are the 2026 locality payments shown in the applicable OPM salary tables. The locality percentage is not an additional flat cash payment; it is incorporated into the applicable locality-adjusted basic pay rate.
Locality percentages apply according to the employee's official duty station and applicable federal pay rules. Always use the OPM salary table for the employee's specific locality area rather than applying a locality percentage from another city.
GS locality pay can create substantial differences in federal basic pay between geographic areas. Employees with the same GS grade and step can receive different locality-adjusted salaries because their official duty stations may fall under different locality pay tables.
| Locality Area | 2026 Locality Payment | Relative Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland | 46.34% | Highest among the example areas shown |
| New York–Newark | 37.95% | High locality adjustment |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach | 36.47% | High locality adjustment |
| Washington–Baltimore–Arlington | 33.94% | High locality adjustment |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | Standard catch-all locality area |
The comparison demonstrates why a national GS base rate does not necessarily represent the actual basic salary received by an employee in a particular locality. The applicable locality table must be used together with the employee's GS grade and step.
A higher locality percentage does not change an employee's GS grade or step. It changes the salary rate applicable to that grade and step in the employee's locality pay area.
Some metropolitan labor markets have substantially higher locality adjustments than the Rest of U.S. rate. These adjustments are designed to account for geographic differences in non-federal pay levels.
| Locality Pay Area | 2026 Locality Payment | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA | 46.34% | The highest locality percentage among the areas shown here. |
| New York–Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 37.95% | A major high-locality metropolitan pay area. |
| Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA | 36.47% | A major California locality pay area with a high adjustment. |
| Washington–Baltimore–Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 33.94% | A major federal employment center with a substantial locality adjustment. |
The locality percentage alone does not determine an employee's final salary. The employee's GS grade, step and applicable pay table must also be considered. In addition, certain occupations may be covered by special salary rates or other authorized pay adjustments.
Locality percentages can change in future pay years. The percentages shown here are the official 2026 rates for the listed OPM locality pay areas.
The GS locality adjustment is applied to the standard General Schedule salary rate for an employee's grade and step. The resulting locality-adjusted rate becomes the applicable basic pay rate for that locality, subject to federal pay rules and any applicable special salary rate.
| Pay Stage | How It Works |
|---|---|
| 1. GS Grade | The employee's position is assigned a General Schedule grade such as GS-9, GS-12 or GS-15. |
| 2. GS Step | The employee's pay position within that grade is identified from Step 1 through Step 10. |
| 3. Base Rate | The standard nationwide General Schedule base salary for the applicable grade and step is identified. |
| 4. Locality Area | The employee's official duty station determines the applicable locality pay area. |
| 5. Locality-Adjusted Pay | The applicable OPM locality salary table provides the resulting basic pay rate for that grade and step. |
For example, the 2026 OPM salary table for the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington locality area incorporates a 33.94% locality payment. The applicable salary is determined from the locality table according to the employee's GS grade and step rather than simply adding a generic percentage to take-home pay.
Likewise, the 2026 Rest of U.S. locality table incorporates a 17.06% locality payment. Employees covered by that locality area therefore use the Rest of U.S. salary table when determining their locality-adjusted GS basic pay.
Locality-adjusted basic pay is not the same as take-home pay. Federal taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums and other payroll deductions are applied separately and can reduce the amount an employee receives.
GS locality pay can significantly change an employee's basic salary because the same GS grade and step can have different pay rates depending on the employee's official locality pay area. The locality adjustment is built into the applicable OPM locality salary table.
For example, a 2026 GS-12 Step 1 employee has a standard base salary of $76,463. The locality-adjusted salary is higher in areas covered by locality pay.
| 2026 Pay Area | Locality Payment | GS-12 Step 1 Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Base General Schedule | No locality adjustment | $76,463 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $89,508 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $102,415 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 46.34% | $111,896 |
The figures above show why an employee's actual GS basic pay cannot be determined from the grade and step alone. The applicable locality pay area must also be considered.
Locality pay changes the applicable basic salary rate. It does not change the employee's GS grade or step.
The following examples show how the same GS grade and step can produce different annual salaries when different locality pay tables apply.
| GS Grade & Step | Base Salary | Rest of U.S. | Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-9 Step 1 | $52,727 | $61,722 | $70,623 | $77,161 |
| GS-11 Step 1 | $63,795 | $74,678 | $85,447 | $93,358 |
| GS-12 Step 1 | $76,463 | $89,508 | $102,415 | $111,896 |
| GS-13 Step 1 | $90,925 | $106,437 | $121,785 | $133,060 |
| GS-14 Step 1 | $107,446 | $125,776 | $143,913 | $157,236 |
| GS-15 Step 1 | $126,384 | $147,945 | $169,279 | $184,950 |
These are 2026 official OPM annual salary rates for the standard General Schedule locality tables shown. Certain employees may instead be covered by special salary rates or special occupational pay schedules.
The locality-adjusted figures are basic pay rates before federal taxes, retirement contributions, insurance premiums and other payroll deductions.
Federal GS compensation is easier to understand when standard base pay is separated from locality-adjusted basic pay. The base General Schedule rate provides the nationwide grade-and-step salary, while the applicable locality table provides the rate for a specific geographic area.
| Pay Type | What It Means | Example: GS-12 Step 1 |
|---|---|---|
| GS Base Pay | Standard General Schedule salary before locality adjustment. | $76,463 |
| Locality-Adjusted Basic Pay | Applicable salary after the geographic locality adjustment is included. | Varies by locality |
| Rest of U.S. Pay | Locality-adjusted rate for employees covered by the Rest of U.S. locality area. | $89,508 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington Pay | Locality-adjusted rate for the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality area. | $102,415 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland Pay | Locality-adjusted rate for the San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland locality area. | $111,896 |
An employee should not assume that the standard GS base rate is the amount they will actually receive as federal basic pay. The applicable OPM locality table can produce a substantially higher rate depending on the employee's official duty station.
The standard GS base table and locality tables are separate OPM pay tables. Always use the applicable locality table when determining the basic salary for a specific duty station.
Yes. Locality pay can affect take-home pay indirectly because it increases the employee's applicable basic salary. A higher basic salary generally means a higher gross amount from which applicable payroll deductions are calculated.
However, locality pay itself is not the same as take-home pay. Federal employees may have deductions for federal income tax, state or local taxes where applicable, retirement contributions, health insurance, life insurance and other benefits.
| Pay Figure | What It Represents |
|---|---|
| GS Base Salary | Standard annual General Schedule rate for the employee's grade and step. |
| Locality-Adjusted Basic Pay | Applicable basic salary after the geographic locality adjustment. |
| Gross Pay | Pay before applicable payroll deductions. |
| Net or Take-Home Pay | Amount remaining after applicable taxes, retirement, insurance and other payroll deductions. |
Not necessarily by the same percentage. A higher locality rate increases basic pay, but the employee's actual take-home amount depends on individual tax status, retirement contributions, insurance elections and other payroll deductions.
Use locality-adjusted basic pay as the starting salary figure. Do not treat the published GS locality salary as the employee's final bank deposit.
In addition to the standard General Schedule and locality pay system, some federal employees may be covered by special salary rates. These rates are authorized for certain occupations, grades, agencies or locations when federal pay rules provide a higher rate than the otherwise applicable General Schedule rate.
Special salary rates are not a separate pay system that applies to every GS employee. Eligibility depends on the employee's occupation, grade, agency, location and the specific special rate authorization.
| Pay Type | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Standard GS Base Pay | The nationwide General Schedule rate determined by grade and step before locality adjustments. |
| Locality-Adjusted Pay | The standard GS rate increased by the locality adjustment applicable to the employee's official duty station. |
| Special Salary Rate | A higher authorized rate that may apply to certain federal occupations, grades, agencies or geographic locations. |
| Retained Rate | A rate that may be retained by an eligible employee under applicable federal pay rules when the employee's circumstances qualify. |
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management publishes individual 2026 special rate tables identifying the occupations, grades and locations covered by each authorization. When applicable, employees may receive the authorized special rate or another higher rate available under federal pay rules.
Locality pay and special salary rates both affect federal basic pay, but they serve different purposes. Locality pay is primarily a geographic adjustment, while a special salary rate is an authorized higher rate for specific covered occupations, grades, agencies or locations.
| Feature | Locality Pay | Special Salary Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Purpose | Adjusts GS pay for geographic labor-market differences. | Provides an authorized higher rate for specific covered positions or occupations. |
| Who It Covers | Eligible GS employees assigned to the applicable locality area. | Employees meeting the requirements of the specific special rate table. |
| Location Based | Yes. The official duty station is important. | Often. Some special tables identify specific locations or locality areas. |
| Occupation Based | Generally no. | Yes, many special rate tables are limited to particular occupations. |
| Rate Used | Applicable locality-adjusted GS rate. | Applicable authorized special rate when it provides the higher applicable rate under the governing rules. |
OPM's 2026 General Schedule guidance states that certain GS employees whose standard locality rate is below an applicable special rate may be entitled to the higher special rate. The exact result depends on the applicable special rate authorization and the employee's circumstances.
Federal salary calculations can also be affected by statutory and regulatory pay limitations. This means that the amount shown on a GS pay table is not always the final amount an employee can receive in every circumstance.
Pay limitations can become particularly important for higher-level federal employees and for employees whose applicable locality or special salary rate would otherwise produce a rate above an applicable statutory limit.
| Pay Consideration | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| GS Grade and Step | Determines the employee's standard General Schedule rate. |
| Locality Pay | Can increase basic pay based on the employee's applicable locality area. |
| Special Salary Rate | May provide a higher authorized rate for covered employees. |
| Statutory Pay Limit | Can limit the amount of basic pay payable when an otherwise applicable rate exceeds the relevant legal limitation. |
| Other Pay Rules | Overtime, premium pay, retained rates and other federal compensation rules can affect total compensation separately from the standard GS salary rate. |
The applicable federal pay limitation depends on the employee's pay system, position and governing federal law. The OPM pay tables should therefore be used together with the applicable federal pay rules when determining an individual employee's maximum payable rate.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management publishes the 2026 General Schedule, locality pay tables and individual special salary rate tables. Always check the applicable OPM table for the employee's grade, step, occupation and duty station before determining an exact federal salary.
Check 2026 OPM Pay TablesGS locality pay rates can change from year to year as the federal government updates General Schedule compensation. The locality adjustment is applied to the applicable GS base rate for employees whose official duty stations are covered by a locality pay area.
| Pay Component | What Can Change |
|---|---|
| GS Base Pay | The nationwide General Schedule base rates may be adjusted for a new calendar year. |
| Locality Percentage | The applicable locality adjustment may change based on the federal pay schedule for the new year. |
| Locality-Adjusted Pay | An employee's basic pay can change when the updated locality rate is applied to the applicable GS grade and step. |
| Pay Area Coverage | Locality pay area boundaries or coverage can change when authorized under federal pay rules. |
For this reason, employees should use the official 2026 GS locality pay tables when checking current salary rates rather than relying on an older year's locality percentage.
Federal locality pay information can change with annual federal pay adjustments. Always verify the applicable year's OPM locality table for the employee's grade, step and official duty station.
GS locality pay areas are defined geographic areas used to determine which locality adjustment applies to eligible federal employees. These boundaries do not simply follow every state boundary and may include specific metropolitan or geographic areas.
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Geographic Location | Determines which locality pay area may apply to an employee's official duty station. |
| Metropolitan Area | Some locality areas cover defined metropolitan statistical areas or surrounding geographic locations. |
| Locality Definition | The federal government establishes the geographic boundaries used for locality pay purposes. |
| Boundary Changes | Authorized changes can affect which locality table applies to a particular duty station. |
An employee should therefore check the official OPM locality area definition for the duty station rather than assuming that the state or city name alone determines the applicable locality rate.
Locality areas are established using federal geographic definitions. Employees should verify the current OPM locality area covering their official duty station.
A change in an employee's official duty station can affect the locality pay that applies to their federal salary. If the new duty station is covered by a different locality area, the employee's locality-adjusted basic pay may change even when the employee remains at the same GS grade and step.
| Situation | Potential Salary Effect |
|---|---|
| Same GS Grade and Step | The employee may continue to have the same underlying GS grade and step while the applicable locality adjustment changes. |
| Move to Higher Locality Area | Locality-adjusted basic pay may be higher when the new duty station has a higher applicable locality rate. |
| Move to Lower Locality Area | Locality-adjusted basic pay may be lower when the new duty station has a lower applicable locality rate. |
| Move to Rest of U.S. | The employee may become subject to the Rest of U.S. locality rate if the new duty station falls within that locality category. |
The key point is that GS locality pay follows the applicable official duty station rules. A change in where an employee officially works can therefore change the locality component of basic pay without requiring a change in GS grade.
When evaluating GS salary after a relocation, check the current OPM locality pay area for the employee's new official duty station. Do not determine the applicable locality rate solely from the employee's home address.
This GS locality pay guide explains how geographic locality adjustments work for eligible federal employees in the United States. The information is organized around official federal pay rules, locality definitions and publicly available U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) resources.
| Research Area | How It Is Used |
|---|---|
| Locality Pay | Used to explain how geographic adjustments affect eligible General Schedule basic pay. |
| Locality Areas | Used to explain how official geographic areas determine the applicable locality adjustment. |
| Official Duty Station | Used to explain why the employee's official work location is important when determining locality coverage. |
| 2026 Pay Information | Used to explain current locality pay information and how it interacts with the 2026 General Schedule pay system. |
| Federal Pay Rules | Used to explain locality adjustments, special salary rates and applicable federal pay limitations. |
Locality pay rates and geographic coverage can change as federal pay rules are updated. For employment, compensation or financial decisions, readers should verify the applicable rate and locality area using the latest official OPM information.
This guide is intended for informational and educational purposes. Official OPM pay tables and locality definitions should be treated as the final source when determining an employee's applicable federal pay rate.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management publishes official federal salary information, locality pay tables and locality area definitions. These resources can be used to verify the current locality adjustment applicable to a federal employee's official duty station.
Locality percentages, pay tables and geographic coverage should be verified against the latest OPM information because federal compensation rules and locality definitions can be updated.
GS locality pay is a geographic salary adjustment added to the applicable General Schedule base rate for eligible federal employees. The adjustment varies according to the locality area covering the employee's official duty station.
Locality pay increases the applicable General Schedule basic pay rate based on the employee's official duty station and the locality area assigned to that location. The same GS grade and step can therefore produce different basic pay amounts in different locality areas.
Yes. An applicable locality adjustment can increase the standard General Schedule base rate. The resulting locality-adjusted amount is higher than the underlying base rate when a locality adjustment applies.
Generally, locality pay is determined by the employee's official duty station rather than simply the employee's home address. Employees should check the OPM locality definition applicable to their official work location.
Yes. Two employees with the same GS grade and step can have different locality-adjusted basic pay when their official duty stations fall within different locality pay areas.
Rest of U.S. is a General Schedule locality pay category covering eligible locations that are not included in one of the separately defined metropolitan or other locality pay areas.
Yes. Federal pay rates and locality adjustments can be updated for a new calendar year. Employees should use the applicable year's official OPM locality pay table when checking current compensation.
A change in official duty station can change the locality area that applies to an employee. As a result, locality-adjusted basic pay may increase or decrease even if the employee remains at the same GS grade and step.
Locality pay is a geographic adjustment associated with an applicable locality area, while a special salary rate is an authorized higher rate that may apply to certain occupations, positions or employee groups under specific federal pay rules.
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes official locality pay tables and locality area definitions. The latest OPM information should be used to verify the applicable rate for a federal employee's official duty station.
GS locality pay is an important part of federal employee compensation because the applicable geographic adjustment can change the basic salary received by an eligible General Schedule employee. The locality rate is generally determined by the employee's official duty station, not simply by the employee's home address.
The same GS grade and step can therefore produce different locality-adjusted salaries in different parts of the United States. Locality rates, geographic coverage and federal pay rules can also change over time, making it important to use the current OPM information when evaluating federal compensation.
To determine the correct GS locality pay, identify the employee's GS grade and step, confirm the official duty station and then check the applicable OPM locality pay table for the relevant year.
The information provided on this page is for general informational and educational purposes only. SalaryPayslip is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the U.S. federal government or any federal agency.
GS locality pay rates, locality area definitions, special salary rates and other federal compensation rules may change. While this guide is prepared using publicly available federal information, readers should verify current salary rates and locality coverage directly with official OPM sources before making employment, compensation or financial decisions.
Individual federal employee compensation may also depend on grade, step, official duty station, special salary rates, pay limitations, employment status and other applicable federal rules. The information on this page should not be treated as an official federal pay determination.
For the most accurate and current locality pay information, consult the official U.S. Office of Personnel Management salary tables and locality definitions.