Federal Locality Pay Calculator
Federal General Schedule employees receive a locality pay adjustment, a percentage added to the base salary that reflects the cost of labor where they work. This calculator applies your locality percentage to the base rate to show your adjusted annual salary, the locality dollar amount, your biweekly gross across 26 pay periods, and the hourly rate using the statutory 2,087-hour divisor. It also compares your locality-adjusted pay to a Rest of U.S. percentage you enter, so you can see how much your duty location is worth.
Locality pay formula
Locality amount = base rate * (locality % / 100)
Adjusted annual salary = base rate + locality amount
Gross biweekly pay = adjusted annual salary / 26
RUS salary = base rate * (1 + RUS % / 100)
Advantage vs. RUS = adjusted annual salary - RUS salary
Locality pay is applied as a straight percentage of the base rate. The advantage figure isolates the extra pay attributable to your duty location compared with the Rest of U.S. rate.
Federal locality pay context
- OPM defines locality pay areas and sets a percentage for each, updated annually.
- Areas not assigned to a specific locality use the Rest of U.S. (RUS) rate.
- Locality pay is part of basic pay for retirement, TSP, and many premium-pay calculations.
- Total adjusted pay is generally capped at Level IV of the Executive Schedule.
- Higher-cost metropolitan areas carry the largest locality percentages.
Federal locality pay: frequently asked questions
How does federal locality pay work?
Locality pay is a percentage added to the General Schedule base rate to reflect differences in labor costs across geographic areas. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sets a locality percentage for each defined pay area each year. Your adjusted salary equals the base rate plus that percentage applied to the base.
Where do I find my locality percentage?
OPM publishes the locality pay tables and a list of locality pay area definitions each year. Find the pay area that covers your duty station and read off its percentage, then enter it here. There is also a 'Rest of U.S.' (RUS) rate for areas not assigned to a specific locality.
Is locality pay part of basic pay?
Yes. Locality pay is considered part of basic pay for purposes such as retirement (FERS/CSRS) calculations, Thrift Savings Plan contributions, and certain premium-pay computations. It is, however, subject to the aggregate pay cap that limits total adjusted pay for most positions.
Why is the comparison to Rest of U.S. shown?
Comparing your locality-adjusted salary against the same base at the 'Rest of U.S.' percentage you enter shows how much more (or less) you earn because of your duty location. It can help when comparing job offers in different cities or evaluating a potential relocation.
Does the calculator account for the pay cap?
No. Federal adjusted pay is generally capped at the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule, but this calculator shows the uncapped base-plus-locality figure. If your computed total would exceed the applicable cap, your actual pay would be limited to the cap. Check OPM for the current cap.
Official sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: 2026 locality pay area definitions.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Salaries and Wages.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.