GS Pay Grade Calculator
Federal General Schedule (GS) employees are paid from a base salary table set by grade and step, with a locality adjustment added on top. This calculator converts your GS base annual rate into the locality-adjusted total, the gross biweekly amount across 26 pay periods, and the hourly rate using the statutory 2,087-hour annual divisor defined in 5 U.S.C. 5504. Look up your exact base rate on the Office of Personnel Management salary tables and enter it, along with your locality percentage, for an accurate gross figure.
GS pay formula
Locality amount = base rate * (locality % / 100)
Adjusted annual salary = base rate + locality amount
Gross biweekly pay = adjusted annual salary / 26
Hourly rate = adjusted annual salary / 2,087
The 2,087-hour divisor is set by 5 U.S.C. 5504 for converting an annual GS rate to an hourly rate. The biweekly figure divides the annual salary across the 26 standard federal pay periods.
Federal General Schedule context
- The GS covers 15 grades (GS-1 to GS-15), each with 10 steps; OPM publishes the base table annually.
- Locality pay is added on top of the base rate and varies by defined locality pay area.
- Total adjusted pay is capped at the rate for Level IV of the Executive Schedule for most positions.
- The statutory hourly divisor is 2,087 hours, the average number of work hours in a calendar year.
- Within-grade step increases occur on a set schedule based on time in step and acceptable performance.
GS pay grade: frequently asked questions
How is the GS hourly rate calculated?
By law (5 U.S.C. 5504), the hourly rate for General Schedule employees is the annual rate of basic pay divided by 2,087 hours. The result is rounded to the nearest cent. For example, a $50,088 annual base divided by 2,087 equals about $24.00 per hour. This calculator uses the 2,087-hour divisor exactly.
Where do I find my GS base pay rate?
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) publishes the annual General Schedule base pay table each year, with a rate for every grade (GS-1 through GS-15) and step (1 through 10). Look up your grade and step on the OPM salary tables and enter that annual base rate here. Locality pay is added on top of the base.
What is locality pay?
Locality pay is a percentage adjustment added to the GS base rate based on where you work, reflecting local labor-market costs. OPM sets a locality percentage for each defined pay area. Enter your locality percentage and this calculator adds it to your base to estimate your adjusted annual salary.
Why is the biweekly pay the annual rate divided by 26?
The federal pay year is divided into 26 biweekly pay periods. Your gross biweekly pay before taxes and deductions is your annual rate divided by 26. Two pay periods each year can fall such that some years contain 27 pay periods, but the standard divisor for the base rate is 26.
Does this include taxes or benefits?
No. This calculator shows gross basic pay (base plus locality) only. It does not deduct federal or state income tax, Social Security, Medicare, retirement contributions (FERS), or Thrift Savings Plan amounts, and it does not add overtime, premium pay, or bonuses. Use it for the gross figures, then apply your own deductions.
Official sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: 2026 General Schedule salary tables.
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: Salaries and Wages.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 17 June 2026. See our methodology.