United States · Federal pay 2026
GS pay calculator 2026
A GS-12 step 1 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington earns $102,415 a year in 2026; a single filer living in Virginia takes home about $75,804 ($6,317.02 a month). Pick your grade, step, locality and state for your own figure.
Salaries are OPM’s own 2026 tables for each locality. Take-home pay is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax.
GS-12 step 1 · Washington-Baltimore-Arlington (33.94% locality pay)
$75,804 a year after tax
$6,317.02 a month · salary $102,415 a year
| Base pay (GS table) | $76,463 |
|---|---|
| Locality pay (33.94%) | $25,952 |
| Salary | $102,415 |
| Federal income tax | −$13,701.30 |
| Social Security and Medicare | −$7,834.75 |
| Virginia tax | −$5,074.76 |
| Take-home pay | $75,804 |
- Take-home for a single filer in Virginia: federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax, with nothing taken before tax.
- The whole 2026 GS table for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington.
How is GS take-home pay worked out?
- Salary: the cell for your grade and step in your locality’s 2026 table, exactly as OPM publishes it (base pay plus locality pay, up to the $197,200 cap).
- Federal income tax for your filing status with the 2026 standard deduction, and Social Security and Medicare.
- State tax for the state you live in, for the 19 states we cover.
Example: a GS-13 step 1 in New York-Newark earns $125,431. A single filer living in New York State (outside New York City) takes home about $89,993 a year after $35,438 in taxes and contributions.
How much does locality pay add?
From 17.06% to 46.34% of base pay, depending on the area. Each locality has its own page with its whole table: start from the GS pay scale 2026.
What does this leave out?
- Retirement contributions (FERS), health and life insurance (FEHB, FEGLI), the Thrift Savings Plan and other deductions on your leave and earnings statement.
- Special rates for some jobs (such as law enforcement officers), overtime and other pay plans.
- State tax outside our 19 states, local and city taxes.
- Which locality you are in: OPM defines each area by county, and the calculator does not map a ZIP code to one.
What else can I work out?
- GS pay scale 2026 The General Schedule base table and every locality’s own table.
- GS pay explained Grades, steps, locality pay and the cap, in plain words.
- Military pay calculator Basic pay, BAH, BAS and take-home pay for your rank, years of service, ZIP code and home state.
- Paycheck calculator Take-home pay per paycheck for any salary, with 401(k) and HSA.
Questions about GS pay after tax
How much is a GS-12 step 1 after taxes?
In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington a GS-12 step 1 earns $102,415 a year. A single filer living in Virginia takes home about $75,804 ($6,317.02 a month) after $13,701 federal income tax, $7,835 Social Security and Medicare and $5,075 Virginia tax.
What does a GS-9 take home?
A GS-9 step 1 in the Rest of U.S. area earns $61,722 a year; a single filer in Texas, which has no income tax, takes home about $51,774 ($4,314.47 a month).
Which state’s tax does the calculator use?
The state you pick, as a resident of that state, the same way as our paycheck calculator. Living in one state and working in another can change what you owe, which this calculator does not cover.
Is the GS pay calculator right for my paycheck?
It is an estimate: it leaves out your FERS retirement contribution, health insurance (FEHB), the Thrift Savings Plan and other deductions, which your leave and earnings statement shows. Take-home here is after federal income tax, Social Security, Medicare and state tax only.
What is the highest GS salary in 2026?
$197,200, the pay cap (level IV of the Executive Schedule). In 37 of the 58 locality areas some GS-14 and GS-15 cells are held at it.
Will GS pay change in 2027?
Not decided yet. The President’s plan proposes a pay freeze: “I have determined that for 2027, base pay and locality pay for civilian Federal employees will not change from the 2026 rates.” Proposed, not final: the calculator uses the 2026 tables.