Free FERS Tool · 2026

2026 GS Pay Scale — Phoenix

Locality-adjusted General Schedule pay for Phoenix-Mesa, AZ, the OPM pay area covering Phoenix. Every grade and step below is base pay plus the 22.45% locality add-on, computed with OPM's own formula.

2026 rules · statutory figures last checked October 31, 2026 · Sources: OPM · GSA

22.45%

Locality rate

$111,338

GS-13 Step 1

+$4,901

vs. Rest of U.S.

#21

Of 58 areas

What Phoenix locality pay is worth

Phoenix carries a locality rate of 22.45%, which ranks #21 of 58 areas on this site. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that is worth $4,901 a year more than the same grade and step in the Rest of U.S. area ($111,338 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 — Phoenix (22.45%)

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 — 1 of 150 cells in this area hit that ceiling.

Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$27,654	$28,581	$29,501	$30,417	$31,334	$31,871	$32,781	$33,697	$33,735	$34,590
GS-2	$31,094	$31,833	$32,864	$33,735	$34,112	$35,115	$36,118	$37,121	$38,124	$39,126
GS-3	$33,928	$35,060	$36,191	$37,323	$38,454	$39,586	$40,717	$41,849	$42,980	$44,111
GS-4	$38,086	$39,355	$40,625	$41,895	$43,165	$44,435	$45,704	$46,974	$48,244	$49,514
GS-5	$42,611	$44,032	$45,452	$46,873	$48,293	$49,713	$51,134	$52,554	$53,975	$55,395
GS-6	$47,500	$49,083	$50,666	$52,249	$53,833	$55,416	$56,999	$58,583	$60,166	$61,749
GS-7	$52,783	$54,543	$56,303	$58,062	$59,822	$61,581	$63,341	$65,101	$66,860	$68,620
GS-8	$58,455	$60,403	$62,352	$64,300	$66,248	$68,196	$70,144	$72,092	$74,041	$75,989
GS-9	$64,564	$66,717	$68,870	$71,022	$73,175	$75,328	$77,480	$79,633	$81,786	$83,938
GS-10	$71,099	$73,469	$75,838	$78,208	$80,577	$82,946	$85,316	$87,685	$90,055	$92,424
GS-11	$78,117	$80,721	$83,326	$85,931	$88,535	$91,140	$93,744	$96,349	$98,953	$101,558
GS-12	$93,629	$96,750	$99,871	$102,993	$106,114	$109,235	$112,356	$115,478	$118,599	$121,720
GS-13	$111,338	$115,049	$118,761	$122,472	$126,184	$129,895	$133,606	$137,318	$141,029	$144,741
GS-14	$131,568	$135,954	$140,340	$144,726	$149,112	$153,498	$157,885	$162,271	$166,657	$171,043
GS-15	$154,757	$159,916	$165,075	$170,234	$175,392	$180,551	$185,710	$190,869	$196,028	$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 × 0.2245)
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 Phoenix, plus the Rest of U.S. baseline.

Rest of U.S.17.06%Milwaukee22.42%Buffalo22.41%Richmond22.28%Raleigh22.24%Cleveland22.23%

All 58 pay areas

Alaska32.36%Albany20.77%Albuquerque18.33%Atlanta23.79%Austin20.35%Birmingham18.24%Boston32.58%Buffalo22.41%Burlington19.45%Charlotte19.67%Chicago30.86%Cincinnati21.93%Cleveland22.23%Colorado Springs20.15%Columbus22.15%Corpus Christi17.63%Dallas-Fort Worth27.26%Davenport18.93%Dayton21.42%Denver30.52%Des Moines18.01%Detroit29.12%Fresno17.65%Harrisburg19.43%Hartford32.08%Hawaii22.21%Houston35.00%Huntsville21.91%Indianapolis18.15%Kansas City18.97%Laredo21.59%Las Vegas19.57%Los Angeles36.47%Miami24.67%Milwaukee22.42%Minneapolis27.62%New York37.95%Omaha18.23%Palm Bay17.93%Philadelphia28.99%Phoenix22.45%Pittsburgh21.03%Portland26.13%Raleigh22.24%Reno17.52%Rest of U.S.17.06%Richmond22.28%Rochester17.88%Sacramento29.76%San Antonio18.78%San Diego33.72%San Francisco46.34%Seattle31.57%Spokane17.67%St. Louis20.03%Tucson19.28%Virginia Beach18.80%Washington, DC33.94%

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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