OPM 2022 Pay Scale Locality – GS Pay Scale 2022 – When considering government employment it is important to consider compensation as an factor to be considered. However, although government compensation might not be as good as what private-sector employers might offer, many government positions offer competitive salary with the potential of quick advancement, along with benefits.
The image above was obtained from the original source: federalpayscale.net
Pay scales set in the United States by federal officials decide the amount federal employees are paid. Although over 70% of federal workers are paid according to the most well-known pay scale, called the General Schedule (GS), there is also a range of different payment schedules.
What is the GS Pay Scale?
Professional, technical, administrative and clerical tasks get the majority of their compensation under the General Schedule (GS), which is the most popular pay scale for federal employees. The system is divided into 15 levels. The system starts with GS-1 the lowest level, and progressing to GS-15 which is the highest level. In each level, there is an overall of ten steps. The level of pay associated with a position is determined by the grade allocated to that position.
Grade Levels
- GS-3 or GS-4: These post are often internships, or student posts.
- GS-5 to GS-7: These posts are usually an overwhelming majority of the entry-level jobs.
- GS-8 to GS-12: These post are usually located within the mid-management range
- GS-13 to GS-15: These positions are often supervisory posts at the top level.
- Above the GS-15 are classified as members of the Senior Executive Service.
They are free to promote and fill positions at any grade they consider necessary. Even if you’ve not worked in the government before, you may benefit from your previous employment and educational background to qualify for a higher grade. Every time you advance through the steps and earn a higher grade after having been employed, you’ll earn a rise. Employees in the federal government usually advance one step every year.
There are a variety of jobs that are classified as ‘career ladder’ roles. This means that an employee can apply for advancement to a better grade without needing to apply for a new job. For instance the GS-5/7/9 Career ladder permits a fresh graduate to go from a GS-5 to a GS-7 , and finally an GS-9 with no change in employment in as little as three years from the date of graduation! Read the summary section of an announcement for a job to know more about the grade and advancement opportunities for a particular job prior to applying.
Pay and Cost of Living Allowance
Under the GS system, a salary is divided into two parts: the base pay and the local pay adjustment. The General Schedule base pay is modified to reflect variations in living costs in various geographical areas. This means that an entry-level scientist earning a GS-7 salary at San Francisco earns more money than an entry-level biological scientist who earns a salary in Atlanta because there is a higher cost to living San Francisco is greater than that of living in Atlanta.
Additionally, wages outside of the continental United States are typically 10 to 25 percent more than those inside the country. This is because the government also provides select employees with a Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). Those who live and work on the coasts of Alaska, Hawaii, or the United States territories will get a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to help offset the high cost of living in these regions.
Special Rates
The General Schedule (GS) Pay Scale is employed in the vast majority of federal agencies; however, more than 40 agencies or agency subcomponents each has their own set of scales for pay.
In within the GS system, various agencies make use of unique pricing. In order to draw and retain high-quality talent in difficult-to-fill positions especially in the scientific, technological and medical areas The federal government sets more lucrative rates for base pay and also special rates for specific employment. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) are among the many examples of companies that offer discounted prices (IRS).
Federal Pay Scale 2021 – GS Pay Scale 2021
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
| GS-1 | $19,738 | $20,400 | $21,056 | $21,709 | $22,365 | $22,749 | $23,398 | $24,052 | $24,078 | $24,690 |
| GS-2 | $22,194 | $22,722 | $23,457 | $24,078 | $24,349 | $25,065 | $25,781 | $26,497 | $27,213 | $27,929 |
| GS-3 | $24,216 | $25,023 | $25,830 | $26,637 | $27,444 | $28,251 | $29,058 | $29,865 | $30,672 | $31,479 |
| GS-4 | $27,184 | $28,090 | $28,996 | $29,902 | $30,808 | $31,714 | $32,620 | $33,526 | $34,432 | $35,338 |
| GS-5 | $30,414 | $31,428 | $32,442 | $33,456 | $34,470 | $35,484 | $36,498 | $37,512 | $38,526 | $39,540 |
| GS-6 | $33,903 | $35,033 | $36,163 | $37,293 | $38,423 | $39,553 | $40,683 | $41,813 | $42,943 | $44,073 |
| GS-7 | $37,674 | $38,930 | $40,186 | $41,442 | $42,698 | $43,954 | $45,210 | $46,466 | $47,722 | $48,978 |
| GS-8 | $41,723 | $43,114 | $44,505 | $45,896 | $47,287 | $48,678 | $50,069 | $51,460 | $52,851 | $54,242 |
| GS-9 | $46,083 | $47,619 | $49,155 | $50,691 | $52,227 | $53,763 | $55,299 | $56,835 | $58,371 | $59,907 |
| GS-10 | $50,748 | $52,440 | $54,132 | $55,824 | $57,516 | $59,208 | $60,900 | $62,592 | $64,284 | $65,976 |
| GS-11 | $55,756 | $57,615 | $59,474 | $61,333 | $63,192 | $65,051 | $66,910 | $68,769 | $70,628 | $72,487 |
| GS-12 | $66,829 | $69,057 | $71,285 | $73,513 | $75,741 | $77,969 | $80,197 | $82,425 | $84,653 | $86,881 |
| GS-13 | $79,468 | $82,117 | $84,766 | $87,415 | $90,064 | $92,713 | $95,362 | $98,011 | $100,660 | $103,309 |
| GS-14 | $93,907 | $97,037 | $100,167 | $103,297 | $106,427 | $109,557 | $112,687 | $115,817 | $118,947 | $122,077 |
| GS-15 | $110,460 | $114,142 | $117,824 | $121,506 | $125,188 | $128,870 | $132,552 | $136,234 | $139,916 | $143,598 |
Federal Pay Scale 2022 – GS Pay Scale 2022
| GS Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
| GS-1 | $20,251 | $20,930 | $21,603 | $22,273 | $22,946 | $23,340 | $24,006 | $24,677 | $24,704 | $25,332 |
| GS-2 | $22,771 | $23,313 | $24,067 | $24,704 | $24,982 | $25,717 | $26,451 | $27,186 | $27,921 | $28,655 |
| GS-3 | $24,846 | $25,674 | $26,502 | $27,330 | $28,158 | $28,986 | $29,814 | $30,641 | $31,469 | $32,297 |
| GS-4 | $27,891 | $28,820 | $29,750 | $30,679 | $31,609 | $32,539 | $33,468 | $34,398 | $35,327 | $36,257 |
| GS-5 | $31,205 | $32,245 | $33,285 | $34,326 | $35,366 | $36,407 | $37,447 | $38,487 | $39,528 | $40,568 |
| GS-6 | $34,784 | $35,944 | $37,103 | $38,263 | $39,422 | $40,581 | $41,741 | $42,900 | $44,060 | $45,219 |
| GS-7 | $38,654 | $39,942 | $41,231 | $42,519 | $43,808 | $45,097 | $46,385 | $47,674 | $48,963 | $50,251 |
| GS-8 | $42,808 | $44,235 | $45,662 | $47,089 | $48,516 | $49,944 | $51,371 | $52,798 | $54,225 | $55,652 |
| GS-9 | $47,281 | $48,857 | $50,433 | $52,009 | $53,585 | $55,161 | $56,737 | $58,313 | $59,889 | $61,465 |
| GS-10 | $52,067 | $53,803 | $55,539 | $57,275 | $59,011 | $60,747 | $62,483 | $64,219 | $65,955 | $67,691 |
| GS-11 | $57,206 | $59,113 | $61,020 | $62,928 | $64,835 | $66,742 | $68,650 | $70,557 | $72,464 | $74,372 |
| GS-12 | $68,567 | $70,852 | $73,138 | $75,424 | $77,710 | $79,996 | $82,282 | $84,568 | $86,854 | $89,140 |
| GS-13 | $81,534 | $84,252 | $86,970 | $89,688 | $92,406 | $95,124 | $97,841 | $100,559 | $103,277 | $105,995 |
| GS-14 | $96,349 | $99,560 | $102,771 | $105,983 | $109,194 | $112,405 | $115,617 | $118,828 | $122,040 | $125,251 |
| GS-15 | $113,332 | $117,110 | $120,887 | $124,665 | $128,443 | $132,221 | $135,998 | $139,776 | $143,554 | $147,332 |