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Free FERS Tool · 2026

2026 GS Pay Scale — Detroit

Locality-adjusted General Schedule pay for Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI, the OPM pay area covering Detroit. Every grade and step below is base pay plus the 29.12% locality add-on, computed with OPM's own formula.

Data current as of January 11, 2026 · Sources: OPM · GSA

29.12%
Locality rate
$117,402
GS-13 Step 1
+$10,965
vs. Rest of U.S.
#11
Of 24 areas

What Detroit locality pay is worth

Detroit carries a locality rate of 29.12%, which ranks #11 of 24 areas on this site. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that is worth $10,965 a year more than the same grade and step in the Rest of U.S. area ($117,402 against $106,437).

Locality pay is not a bonus — it is part of basic pay. That matters for retirement: it counts toward your High-3 average salary, and therefore toward your FERS pension. A move between pay areas late in your career can move your High-3 in either direction.

Locality pay counts toward your High-3. Because it is basic pay, the difference above compounds into your annuity — not just your paycheck. Calculate your High-3 →

2026 pay table — Detroit (29.12%)

Annual locality-adjusted salary by grade and step. Figures are rounded to the dollar. Cells shown in amber are capped at the Executive Schedule Level IV limit of $197,200 3 of 150 cells in this area hit that ceiling.

GradeStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
GS-1$29,160$30,138$31,108$32,073$33,041$33,607$34,567$35,533$35,573$36,474
GS-2$32,787$33,567$34,655$35,573$35,970$37,028$38,085$39,143$40,200$41,258
GS-3$35,777$36,970$38,163$39,356$40,549$41,742$42,935$44,128$45,321$46,514
GS-4$40,160$41,499$42,838$44,177$45,516$46,855$48,194$49,533$50,872$52,211
GS-5$44,932$46,430$47,928$49,426$50,924$52,421$53,919$55,417$56,915$58,413
GS-6$50,087$51,756$53,426$55,096$56,765$58,435$60,104$61,774$63,443$65,113
GS-7$55,658$57,514$59,369$61,225$63,080$64,936$66,791$68,647$70,502$72,358
GS-8$61,639$63,694$65,748$67,802$69,857$71,911$73,965$76,019$78,074$80,128
GS-9$68,081$70,351$72,621$74,891$77,161$79,431$81,701$83,971$86,241$88,510
GS-10$74,972$77,471$79,969$82,468$84,966$87,465$89,963$92,462$94,960$97,458
GS-11$82,372$85,118$87,865$90,611$93,358$96,104$98,850$101,597$104,343$107,090
GS-12$98,729$102,020$105,312$108,603$111,894$115,185$118,477$121,768$125,059$128,350
GS-13$117,402$121,316$125,230$129,143$133,057$136,970$140,884$144,798$148,711$152,625
GS-14$138,734$143,359$147,984$152,610$157,235$161,860$166,485$171,110$175,735$180,360
GS-15$163,187$168,627$174,067$179,506$184,946$190,386$195,826$197,200$197,200$197,200

How this table is calculated

OPM publishes a base General Schedule table and a locality percentage for each pay area. The locality add-on is the base rate multiplied by the area percentage and rounded to the nearest dollar; the two are then summed and the result capped at Executive Schedule Level IV.

add-on = round(base × 0.2912)
total  = min(base + add-on, $197,200)

5 U.S.C. § 5304 · 5 CFR § 531.214

Compare with other pay areas

Areas with a locality rate closest to Detroit, plus the Rest of U.S. baseline.

All 24 pay areas

Need a different grade, step, or a biweekly figure? Use the GS pay calculator → — it covers every area, shows the base/locality split, and flags the pay cap.

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