United States · Federal pay 2026 · Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden GS pay scale 2026

Locality pay in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden is 28.99% in 2026, so GS pay runs from $29,131 a year (GS-1 step 1) to $197,200 (GS-15 step 10). A GS-12 step 1 earns $98,630, $9,122 more than in the Rest of U.S. area.

Pick a grade and step, or read the whole table below. Every figure is OPM’s own for this locality.

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD: locality pay 28.99%.

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden · GS-12 step 1

$98,630 a year

$8,219.17 a month · $3,793.46 every two weeks, before tax

$22,167 of it is locality pay on top of the $76,463 base.

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden: 2026 GS pay with 28.99% locality pay, yearly
GradeStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
GS-1$29,131$30,108$31,076$32,041$33,007$33,574$34,532$35,497$35,537$36,437
GS-2$32,754$33,534$34,620$35,537$35,934$36,990$38,047$39,103$40,160$41,216
GS-3$35,741$36,932$38,124$39,316$40,508$41,700$42,892$44,084$45,275$46,467
GS-4$40,120$41,457$42,795$44,133$45,470$46,808$48,146$49,483$50,821$52,158
GS-5$44,887$46,384$47,880$49,376$50,872$52,369$53,865$55,361$56,858$58,354
GS-6$50,037$51,704$53,372$55,040$56,708$58,376$60,044$61,711$63,379$65,047
GS-7$55,602$57,456$59,310$61,163$63,017$64,870$66,724$68,578$70,431$72,285
GS-8$61,577$63,629$65,682$67,734$69,786$71,838$73,891$75,943$77,995$80,047
GS-9$68,013$70,280$72,548$74,815$77,083$79,351$81,618$83,886$86,154$88,421
GS-10$74,897$77,393$79,889$82,385$84,881$87,377$89,872$92,368$94,864$97,360
GS-11$82,289$85,033$87,776$90,520$93,264$96,007$98,751$101,494$104,238$106,982
GS-12$98,630$101,918$105,206$108,493$111,781$115,069$118,357$121,645$124,933$128,221
GS-13$117,284$121,194$125,104$129,013$132,923$136,833$140,742$144,652$148,562$152,471
GS-14$138,595$143,215$147,835$152,456$157,076$161,697$166,317$170,938$175,558$180,178
GS-15$163,023$168,457$173,891$179,326$184,760$190,194$195,629$197,200*$197,200*$197,200*

* Held at the 2026 pay cap of $197,200 (level IV of the Executive Schedule).

How does Philadelphia-Reading-Camden GS pay compare?

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden has the 15th highest locality pay of the 58 areas. Step 1 of some grades, beside the base table and the Rest of U.S. area:

Philadelphia-Reading-Camden GS pay beside the base table and the Rest of U.S., step 1, 2026
Grade, step 1Philadelphia-Reading-CamdenBase tableRest of U.S.
GS-5 $44,887 $34,799 $40,736
GS-7 $55,602 $43,106 $50,460
GS-9 $68,013 $52,727 $61,722
GS-11 $82,289 $63,795 $74,678
GS-12 $98,630 $76,463 $89,508
GS-13 $117,284 $90,925 $106,437
GS-14 $138,595 $107,446 $125,776
GS-15 $163,023 $126,384 $147,945

3 cells are held at the $197,200 cap: GS-15 step 8, GS-15 step 9, GS-15 step 10. They get less than the full 28.99%.

What is the locality pay in other areas?

What does this leave out?

  • Special rates for some jobs (such as law enforcement officers) and other pay plans.
  • Which counties are in this locality: check with your agency.
  • Tax and deductions: the GS pay calculator works out take-home pay.

What else can I work out?

Questions about GS pay in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden

What is the locality pay for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden in 2026?

28.99%, for the area OPM calls “Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD”. That ranks 15 of the 58 locality areas. It is added to the base table, so a GS-9 step 1 earns $68,013 here against $52,727 on the base table.

How much does a GS-12 make in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden?

From $98,630 a year at step 1 to $128,221 at step 10 in 2026. Step 5 is $111,781.

What is GS-13 pay in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden?

$117,284 at step 1, $132,923 at step 5 and $152,471 at step 10, a year.

What does a GS-7 earn in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden?

$55,602 a year at step 1 ($2,138.54 every two weeks before tax) and $72,285 at step 10.

Is GS pay in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden capped?

3 cells are held at the $197,200 cap: GS-15 step 8, GS-15 step 9, GS-15 step 10. They get less than the full 28.99%.

Will GS pay in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden change in 2027?

Not decided yet. The President’s plan proposes a pay freeze for 2027, with base and locality pay staying at their 2026 rates: “I have determined that for 2027, base pay and locality pay for civilian Federal employees will not change from the 2026 rates.” That is a proposal, not final.