Federal Pay Scale: What You Really Earn in Government Jobs

When people talk about federal pay scale, a standardized system used to determine salaries for U.S. civilian government employees based on job level and experience. Also known as the General Schedule (GS) pay system, it’s the backbone of how the U.S. government pays its non-military staff. It’s not just a chart on a website—it’s the real number that lands in your bank account every two weeks if you work for the IRS, the EPA, the VA, or any other federal agency.

The federal pay scale isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s broken into GS grades, 15 levels that reflect job responsibility and complexity, from GS-1 (entry-level clerks) to GS-15 (senior analysts and managers). Each grade has 10 steps, pay increments you earn over time through performance and tenure, usually one step every year. A GS-5 Step 1 doesn’t make the same as a GS-5 Step 10—even if they have the same job title. Location matters too. Pay adjusts for cost of living: a GS-7 in Mississippi earns less than a GS-7 in San Francisco. That’s the locality pay adjustment, and it can add 15% to 35% to your base salary.

Some federal jobs fall outside the GS system. Police officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers have their own pay scales—like the Federal Wage System or special pay tables for law enforcement. And while the GS scale is the most common, it’s not the whole story. If you’re aiming for a federal job, you need to know which pay system applies to your role. The highest earners? Senior executives under the Senior Executive Service (SES), who can pull over $200,000 a year. But even a GS-13 in Washington D.C. can make more than $120,000 with locality pay.

What you see on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website isn’t always what you take home. Federal pay includes benefits like health insurance, retirement pensions, and paid leave that add real value. But the salary itself? That’s what drives decisions—whether you’re switching from private sector to public service, or deciding if a GS-9 job in Atlanta is worth moving for. The federal pay scale isn’t flashy, but it’s stable, predictable, and transparent. And if you’re planning your career around government work, understanding it isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Below, you’ll find real guides on government jobs, salary comparisons, and how to land a position that fits your pay goals—whether you’re starting out or thinking about moving up the GS ladder.