Pay Scale for Federal Jobs
- The federal government uses a base schedule to determine its employees' salaries.Calculating payments image by Christopher Meder from Fotolia.com
Most federal government employees receive salaries in accordance with the Base General Schedule Pay Scale. The general schedule is published by the Office of Personnel Management each year with adjustments for cost-of-living increases. The current general schedule includes 15 pay grades with 10 steps, or payment levels, within each grade. - The first three pay grades in the general schedule offer the lowest salaries. These salaries are typically offered for entry-level salaried positions. The salary range for grades 1-3 is as follows:
GS-1: $17,803 to $22,269
GS-2: $20,017 to $25,191
GS-3: $21,840 to $28,392 - Grades 4 through 6 of on the general schedule typically apply to mid-level salaried positions. A high school and/or college degree is usually a prerequisite for eligibility in this range. The level ranges for grades 4 through 6 are as follows:
GS-4: $24,518 to $31,871
GS-5: $27,431 to $35,657
GS-6: $30,577 to $39,748 - Grades 7 through 9 on the general schedule typically apply to upper mid-level positions. Generally, a college, advanced or professional degree is a prerequisite for eligibility in this salary range. The level ranges for grades 7 through 9 are as follows:
GS-7: $33,970 to $44,176
GS-8: $37,631 to $48,917
GS-9: $41,563 to $54,028 - Grades 10 through 12 on the general schedule typically apply to upper-level positions that require an advanced degree and substantial experience in a field. The level ranges for grades 10 through 12 are as follows:
GS-10: $45,771 to $59,505
GS-11: $50,287 to $65,371
GS-12: $60,274 to $78,355 - Grades 13 through 15 on the general schedule are the highest grades. These salary grades typically apply to highly experienced or specialized professionals in a field. The level ranges for grades 13 though 15 are as follows:
GS-13: $71,674 to $93,175
GS-14: $84,697 to $110,104
GS-15: $99,628 to $129,517
