General Schedule (GS) Payscale in California for 2020

Click any county to view locality pay tables

The General Schedule (GS) payscale is the federal government payscale used to determine the salaries of over 70% of federal civilian employees.

Under the GS payscale, an employee's base pay depends on two factors - the GS Paygrade of their job, and the Paygrade Step they have achieved (depending on seniority or performance). This base pay is then modified based on a "Locality Pay Adjustment", which adjusts the GS payscale based on cost-of-living in different areas within the United States.

California has one or more Locality Pay Adjustment areas with special locality pay adjustment rates. This page lists the locality-adjusted yearly GS pay scales for each area, with starting pay for a GS-1 broken down by county in the interactive map. For a detailed calculation of your pay as a GS employee in California, see our General Schedule Pay Calculator.

SAN JOSE-SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND, CA Print Locality Adjustment: 41.44%

The SAN JOSE-SAN FRANCISCO-OAKLAND, CA General Schedule locality region applies to government employees who work in San Francisco and surrounding areas. General Schedule employees who work within this region are paid 41.44% more than the GS base pay rates to account for local cost of living.

GS Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$27,642	$28,568	$29,487	$30,401	$31,320	$31,858	$32,766	$33,683	$33,719	$34,579
GS-2	$31,080	$31,820	$32,849	$33,719	$34,098	$35,101	$36,104	$37,107	$38,110	$39,112
GS-3	$33,912	$35,042	$36,172	$37,302	$38,432	$39,562	$40,692	$41,822	$42,952	$44,083
GS-4	$38,069	$39,337	$40,606	$41,875	$43,143	$44,412	$45,681	$46,950	$48,218	$49,487
GS-5	$42,592	$44,012	$45,432	$46,852	$48,272	$49,692	$51,112	$52,532	$53,952	$55,372
GS-6	$47,477	$49,060	$50,643	$52,225	$53,808	$55,391	$56,973	$58,556	$60,139	$61,722
GS-7	$52,759	$54,517	$56,275	$58,033	$59,791	$61,549	$63,307	$65,065	$66,823	$68,581
GS-8	$58,429	$60,376	$62,324	$64,272	$66,219	$68,167	$70,115	$72,062	$74,010	$75,958
GS-9	$64,535	$66,686	$68,837	$70,989	$73,140	$75,291	$77,443	$79,594	$81,745	$83,897
GS-10	$71,068	$73,437	$75,806	$78,175	$80,544	$82,914	$85,283	$87,652	$90,021	$92,390
GS-11	$78,081	$80,683	$83,286	$85,888	$88,491	$91,093	$93,696	$96,298	$98,901	$101,503
GS-12	$93,587	$96,707	$99,827	$102,947	$106,067	$109,187	$112,308	$115,428	$118,548	$121,668
GS-13	$111,286	$114,996	$118,706	$122,416	$126,126	$129,836	$133,546	$137,256	$140,966	$144,676
GS-14	$131,507	$135,890	$140,273	$144,656	$149,040	$153,423	$157,806	$162,189	$166,572	$170,800*
GS-15	$154,687	$159,844	$165,001	$170,158	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*

The San Francisco locality pay rate also applies to Alameda, Antioch, Berkeley, Concord, Daly City, Dublin, Fairfield, Fremont, Hayward, Modesto, Monterey, Oakland, Petaluma, Richmond, Salinas, San Francisco, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Rosa, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Vallejo, Fort Hunter Liggett, and other cities within the region.

LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH, CA Print Locality Adjustment: 32.41%

The LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH, CA General Schedule locality region applies to government employees who work in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. General Schedule employees who work within this region are paid 32.41% more than the GS base pay rates to account for local cost of living.

GS Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$25,877	$26,744	$27,605	$28,460	$29,321	$29,824	$30,674	$31,532	$31,567	$32,372
GS-2	$29,096	$29,788	$30,752	$31,567	$31,921	$32,860	$33,799	$34,738	$35,677	$36,615
GS-3	$31,747	$32,805	$33,863	$34,920	$35,978	$37,036	$38,094	$39,152	$40,210	$41,268
GS-4	$35,638	$36,826	$38,014	$39,201	$40,389	$41,577	$42,764	$43,952	$45,140	$46,328
GS-5	$39,873	$41,202	$42,531	$43,861	$45,190	$46,520	$47,849	$49,178	$50,508	$51,837
GS-6	$44,446	$45,928	$47,409	$48,891	$50,373	$51,854	$53,336	$54,818	$56,299	$57,781
GS-7	$49,390	$51,036	$52,682	$54,328	$55,974	$57,620	$59,265	$60,911	$62,557	$64,203
GS-8	$54,699	$56,522	$58,345	$60,168	$61,992	$63,815	$65,638	$67,462	$69,285	$71,108
GS-9	$60,415	$62,429	$64,443	$66,457	$68,471	$70,484	$72,498	$74,512	$76,526	$78,540
GS-10	$66,531	$68,749	$70,966	$73,184	$75,402	$77,620	$79,838	$82,056	$84,274	$86,492
GS-11	$73,096	$75,532	$77,968	$80,405	$82,841	$85,277	$87,714	$90,150	$92,586	$95,023
GS-12	$87,612	$90,533	$93,454	$96,375	$99,296	$102,217	$105,138	$108,058	$110,979	$113,900
GS-13	$104,182	$107,655	$111,128	$114,601	$118,074	$121,547	$125,020	$128,493	$131,966	$135,440
GS-14	$123,111	$127,214	$131,318	$135,421	$139,524	$143,628	$147,731	$151,835	$155,938	$160,041
GS-15	$144,812	$149,639	$154,467	$159,295	$164,122	$168,950	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*

The Los Angeles locality pay rate also applies to Anaheim, Bakersfield, Barstow, Burbank, Corona, Costa Mesa, Downey, El Centro, El Monte, El Segundo, Fontana, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Glendale, Huntington Beach, Inglewood, Irvine, Lancaster, Lompoc, Long Beach, Los Alamitos, Los Angeles, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norwalk, Ontario, Orange, Oxnard, Palmdale, Pasadena, Pomona, Port Hueneme, Rancho Cucamonga, Rialto, Ridgecrest, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Buenaventura (Ventura), San Luis Obispo, Santa Ana, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Seal Beach, Simi Valley, Temecula, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Twentynine Palms, Victorville, West Covina, Niland, Edwards, and other cities within the region.

SAN DIEGO-CHULA VISTA-CARLSBAD, CA Print Locality Adjustment: 29.77%

The SAN DIEGO-CHULA VISTA-CARLSBAD, CA General Schedule locality region applies to government employees who work in San Diego and surrounding areas. General Schedule employees who work within this region are paid 29.77% more than the GS base pay rates to account for local cost of living.

GS Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$25,361	$26,211	$27,054	$27,893	$28,736	$29,229	$30,063	$30,903	$30,937	$31,726
GS-2	$28,516	$29,194	$30,139	$30,937	$31,285	$32,205	$33,125	$34,045	$34,965	$35,885
GS-3	$31,114	$32,151	$33,187	$34,224	$35,261	$36,298	$37,335	$38,372	$39,409	$40,445
GS-4	$34,928	$36,092	$37,256	$38,420	$39,584	$40,748	$41,912	$43,076	$44,240	$45,404
GS-5	$39,078	$40,381	$41,683	$42,986	$44,289	$45,592	$46,895	$48,198	$49,501	$50,804
GS-6	$43,560	$45,012	$46,464	$47,916	$49,368	$50,821	$52,273	$53,725	$55,177	$56,629
GS-7	$48,406	$50,019	$51,632	$53,245	$54,858	$56,471	$58,084	$59,697	$61,310	$62,923
GS-8	$53,608	$55,395	$57,182	$58,969	$60,756	$62,543	$64,330	$66,117	$67,903	$69,690
GS-9	$59,210	$61,184	$63,158	$65,132	$67,105	$69,079	$71,053	$73,027	$75,001	$76,974
GS-10	$65,204	$67,378	$69,552	$71,725	$73,899	$76,072	$78,246	$80,420	$82,593	$84,767
GS-11	$71,638	$74,026	$76,414	$78,802	$81,189	$83,577	$85,965	$88,353	$90,740	$93,128
GS-12	$85,865	$88,728	$91,590	$94,453	$97,316	$100,179	$103,041	$105,904	$108,767	$111,629
GS-13	$102,104	$105,508	$108,912	$112,316	$115,720	$119,124	$122,528	$125,931	$129,335	$132,739
GS-14	$120,656	$124,678	$128,699	$132,721	$136,743	$140,764	$144,786	$148,807	$152,829	$156,850
GS-15	$141,924	$146,656	$151,387	$156,119	$160,850	$165,581	$170,313	$170,800*	$170,800*	$170,800*

The San Diego locality pay rate also applies to Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Escondido, Oceanside, San Diego, and other cities within the region.

SACRAMENTO-ROSEVILLE, CA-NV Print Locality Adjustment: 26.37%

The SACRAMENTO-ROSEVILLE, CA-NV General Schedule locality region applies to government employees who work in Sacramento and surrounding areas. General Schedule employees who work within this region are paid 26.37% more than the GS base pay rates to account for local cost of living.

GS Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$24,696	$25,524	$26,346	$27,162	$27,983	$28,464	$29,275	$30,094	$30,127	$30,895
GS-2	$27,769	$28,429	$29,349	$30,127	$30,465	$31,361	$32,257	$33,153	$34,049	$34,945
GS-3	$30,298	$31,308	$32,318	$33,328	$34,337	$35,347	$36,357	$37,366	$38,376	$39,386
GS-4	$34,012	$35,146	$36,280	$37,413	$38,547	$39,680	$40,814	$41,947	$43,081	$44,214
GS-5	$38,054	$39,323	$40,591	$41,860	$43,129	$44,398	$45,666	$46,935	$48,204	$49,473
GS-6	$42,419	$43,833	$45,247	$46,661	$48,075	$49,489	$50,903	$52,317	$53,731	$55,145
GS-7	$47,137	$48,708	$50,279	$51,850	$53,420	$54,991	$56,562	$58,133	$59,704	$61,274
GS-8	$52,203	$53,944	$55,684	$57,424	$59,164	$60,904	$62,644	$64,384	$66,124	$67,864
GS-9	$57,659	$59,581	$61,503	$63,425	$65,347	$67,269	$69,191	$71,113	$73,036	$74,958
GS-10	$63,496	$65,613	$67,729	$69,846	$71,963	$74,079	$76,196	$78,313	$80,429	$82,546
GS-11	$69,761	$72,087	$74,412	$76,737	$79,062	$81,387	$83,713	$86,038	$88,363	$90,688
GS-12	$83,615	$86,403	$89,191	$91,978	$94,766	$97,554	$100,342	$103,129	$105,917	$108,705
GS-13	$99,429	$102,744	$106,059	$109,373	$112,688	$116,003	$119,317	$122,632	$125,947	$129,261
GS-14	$117,495	$121,411	$125,327	$129,244	$133,160	$137,076	$140,992	$144,908	$148,825	$152,741
GS-15	$138,206	$142,813	$147,421	$152,028	$156,636	$161,243	$165,851	$170,458	$170,800*	$170,800*

The Sacramento locality pay rate also applies to Elk Grove, Marysville, Roseville, Sacramento, McClellan, and other cities within the region.

Rest of California Print Locality Adjustment: 15.95%

Any federal employees in California who do not live in an area for which a specific Locality Pay Adjustment has been set will receive the generic "Rest of the United States" locality pay adjustment of 15.95% (shown in the table below).

GS Grade	Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5	Step 6	Step 7	Step 8	Step 9	Step 10
GS-1	$22,660	$23,420	$24,173	$24,922	$25,676	$26,117	$26,861	$27,612	$27,642	$28,347
GS-2	$25,479	$26,085	$26,929	$27,642	$27,953	$28,775	$29,597	$30,419	$31,242	$32,064
GS-3	$27,800	$28,727	$29,653	$30,579	$31,506	$32,432	$33,359	$34,285	$35,212	$36,138
GS-4	$31,208	$32,248	$33,288	$34,328	$35,368	$36,408	$37,448	$38,488	$39,529	$40,569
GS-5	$34,916	$36,080	$37,244	$38,408	$39,573	$40,737	$41,901	$43,065	$44,229	$45,393
GS-6	$38,921	$40,218	$41,516	$42,813	$44,111	$45,408	$46,706	$48,003	$49,301	$50,598
GS-7	$43,251	$44,692	$46,133	$47,574	$49,016	$50,457	$51,898	$53,339	$54,781	$56,222
GS-8	$47,899	$49,496	$51,092	$52,689	$54,285	$55,882	$57,479	$59,075	$60,672	$62,269
GS-9	$52,905	$54,668	$56,432	$58,195	$59,959	$61,723	$63,486	$65,250	$67,013	$68,777
GS-10	$58,260	$60,202	$62,145	$64,087	$66,029	$67,971	$69,913	$71,855	$73,798	$75,740
GS-11	$64,009	$66,143	$68,276	$70,409	$72,543	$74,676	$76,810	$78,943	$81,077	$83,210
GS-12	$76,721	$79,278	$81,836	$84,394	$86,952	$89,510	$92,068	$94,626	$97,183	$99,741
GS-13	$91,231	$94,272	$97,313	$100,355	$103,396	$106,437	$109,479	$112,520	$115,562	$118,603
GS-14	$107,807	$111,400	$114,993	$118,587	$122,180	$125,773	$129,367	$132,960	$136,553	$140,146
GS-15	$126,810	$131,037	$135,265	$139,492	$143,720	$147,948	$152,175	$156,403	$160,630	$164,858

The Rest of U.S. locality pay rate also applies to Bridgeport, Herlong, and other cities within the region.

* For some high-paygrade workers pay under the GS scale may be capped at $170,800, which is the SES (Senior Executive Scale)'s Level 4 pay for the current year (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)).

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