The GS (General Schedule) Pay Scale is kind of like the default way the federal government pays most of its white-collar employees—think admin staff, tech folks, office workers, professionals, and all that. It’s been around since way back in 1949. Yeah, it’s been tweaked a bunch of times over the years, but even now, it’s still the main system for figuring out pay in most civilian government roles.
There are about 1.5 million civilian federal workers under this system, scattered all over the world. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (or OPM—because of course, there’s an acronym) is the one that keeps everything in check. They handle all the rules, job classifications, salary charts, and HR policies that go along with it. But when it comes to the actual hiring and paying people? That’s on the individual government agencies. Still, they’ve got to play by OPM’s rulebook.
How Does the GS Pay Scale Stay Up to Date?
Every year, they do a little update to the GS pay scale based on something called the Employment Cost Index (ECI). Basically, it tracks how wages and benefits are changing in the private sector. So if companies out there are giving folks raises, the federal government tries to keep up. It’s not like they match it dollar for dollar—sometimes the raise feels kinda small—but at least it helps federal salaries not fall way behind. I mean, it’s not perfect, but it’s their way of staying in the game.
GS Pay Scale Structure (And What It Actually Means)
So here’s the deal: the GS system has 15 different pay grades—starting at GS-1 and going all the way up to GS-15. And inside each grade, there are 10 steps. As you gain experience or prove yourself, you move up those steps—usually every 1 to 3 years. Each step up bumps your pay a bit. Sounds pretty straightforward, but there are a few layers to it.
GS-1 is like the true entry-level stuff—basic admin help, data entry, stuff like that.
GS-15 is the big leagues—think top managers, senior-level experts, or serious policy people.
Jobs are slotted into one of these grades based on how hard the job is, how much responsibility it involves, and what kind of background (education, skills) someone needs to do it. When you go up a step, your pay usually jumps about 3%. Climbing from step 1 to step 10 in one grade can take you a solid 18 years if you’re just cruising along. But if you’re killing it at your job, you might move a little faster.
Most people start at step 1 of whatever grade their position falls under. That said, if the agency really needs you or you’ve got some standout experience, they might start you at a higher step. Also, if someone’s already working in the federal system and moves to a new role, they can sometimes keep their old pay rate—this is where something called the “maximum payable rate rule” comes into play. It’s a mouthful, but basically, it lets them avoid a pay cut.
Read Also: Pay Scale for GS-11 in 2025: Salary, Locality Pay, Steps & Job Roles
GS Grades: What Each One Means
Here’s a quick breakdown of what kind of roles fit into each GS level:
GS-1 to GS-4: These are entry-level jobs. A high school diploma is usually enough. You’ll see positions like file clerks, mail sorters, maybe even security assistants here.
GS-5 to GS-7: These usually require a bachelor’s degree or some sort of specialized training. A lot of fresh grads land their first federal job at GS-7.
GS-8 to GS-11: These are more mid-level roles. GS-9 and above might expect you to have a master’s degree or a few solid years of experience under your belt.
GS-12 to GS-13: Now you’re getting into senior territory—project managers, analysts, specialists. To get promoted to GS-13 or higher, jobs usually have to be listed on USAJobs.gov so everyone has a fair shot at applying.
GS-14 to GS-15: These are the heavy hitters. People in these roles often lead entire teams or even departments. It’s not uncommon to see them managing 50 to 100 people, depending on the agency.
Beyond GS-15: You’re now in Senior Executive Service (SES) territory. These folks are like the federal version of corporate execs—very top-level, with years of leadership and experience.
How GS Salaries Are Actually Calculated
There are three main things that shape how much someone makes under the GS system:
Grade Level – This one’s obvious: the higher your grade, the higher your base salary.
Step Level – Within each grade, there are steps. As you move up steps, your salary goes up too. These are usually tied to how long you’ve been in that grade and how well you’ve been doing.
Locality Pay – Not all cities are created equal when it comes to living costs. So the government adds “locality pay” to make up for that. Someone working in D.C. or San Francisco will pull in more than someone doing the exact same job in, say, rural Alabama. It’s all about making things a bit more balanced.
Extra Pay Adjustments
There are also a few more variables that can bump up your pay:
Special Pay Rates: These are given for tough jobs (like remote locations), high-demand skills (think cybersecurity), or hazardous work.
Performance: While step increases are somewhat automatic, great performance can help speed things up
Education and Experience: Agencies can offer higher starting steps to people with advanced degrees or unique work backgrounds.
Occupation and Location: Some jobs or areas just come with better pay due to demand or cost of living.
Read Also: Span of Control Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All (Here’s What to Do Instead)
GS Pay Scale Example – 2023 Basic Pay
Every year, OPM publishes an updated General Schedule pay table, which shows the base pay for each grade and step, before locality pay is added. For example, in 2023:
A GS-1, Step 1 earned about $20,999 annually.
A GS-15, Step 10 earned around $152,771 before locality pay.
Add in locality adjustments, and those numbers go even higher—especially in cities like DC, New York, or San Francisco.
Benefits of the GS Pay Scale
Let’s be honest—federal jobs might not always offer Silicon Valley salaries, but they do come with some serious perks:
Consistency: No surprises. The pay structure is public and transparent.
Regular Raises: Time-based step increases, plus cost-of-living adjustments.
Job Security: Government jobs are generally stable—even in economic downturns.
Solid Benefits: Health insurance, paid time off, and strong retirement plans like the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
Clear Advancement Path: You know what it takes to move up.
Downsides of the GS Pay Scale
That said, it’s not perfect. Here are a few drawbacks people often point out:
Slow Advancement: Promotions can be slow, especially if your agency is small or top-heavy.
Limited Raises Without Promotion: Step increases only go so far—big pay jumps usually require a new position or grade bump.
Lack of Flexibility: Pay is rigid. There’s not much room to negotiate like in the private sector.
Complicated Structure: Understanding where you fit in the GS system (and how to move up) can be confusing.
Not Ideal for Non-Traditional Careers: If you’re looking for a creative or entrepreneurial role, the GS system probably isn’t it.
Final Thoughts
The GS pay scale is far from flashy, but it works—and for a lot of people, that’s the whole point. It brings structure, transparency, and consistency to government jobs, and it helps ensure fair pay across departments and locations. Sure, the system could use some modernization (especially when it comes to speed of advancement and flexibility), but overall, it’s done its job pretty well. If you’re thinking about working for the federal government—or you’re just curious how federal salaries are structured—the GS system is the foundation you’ll want to understand. Once you get the hang of it, it’s actually kind of cool how organized it all is.
