FederalPay.org
FederalPay.org
General Schedule (GS) Payscale in California for 2021
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.
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 | $27,917 | $28,854 | $29,782 | $30,705 | $31,633 | $32,176 | $33,094 | $34,019 | $34,056 | $34,922 |
| GS-2 | $31,391 | $32,138 | $33,178 | $34,056 | $34,439 | $35,452 | $36,465 | $37,477 | $38,490 | $39,503 |
| GS-3 | $34,251 | $35,393 | $36,534 | $37,675 | $38,817 | $39,958 | $41,100 | $42,241 | $43,382 | $44,524 |
| GS-4 | $38,449 | $39,730 | $41,012 | $42,293 | $43,575 | $44,856 | $46,138 | $47,419 | $48,701 | $49,982 |
| GS-5 | $43,018 | $44,452 | $45,886 | $47,320 | $48,754 | $50,189 | $51,623 | $53,057 | $54,491 | $55,925 |
| GS-6 | $47,952 | $49,551 | $51,149 | $52,747 | $54,345 | $55,944 | $57,542 | $59,140 | $60,739 | $62,337 |
| GS-7 | $53,286 | $55,063 | $56,839 | $58,616 | $60,392 | $62,169 | $63,945 | $65,722 | $67,498 | $69,274 |
| GS-8 | $59,013 | $60,980 | $62,948 | $64,915 | $66,883 | $68,850 | $70,818 | $72,785 | $74,752 | $76,720 |
| GS-9 | $65,180 | $67,352 | $69,525 | $71,697 | $73,870 | $76,042 | $78,215 | $80,387 | $82,560 | $84,732 |
| GS-10 | $71,778 | $74,171 | $76,564 | $78,957 | $81,351 | $83,744 | $86,137 | $88,530 | $90,923 | $93,316 |
| GS-11 | $78,861 | $81,491 | $84,120 | $86,749 | $89,379 | $92,008 | $94,638 | $97,267 | $99,896 | $102,526 |
| GS-12 | $94,523 | $97,674 | $100,826 | $103,977 | $107,128 | $110,279 | $113,431 | $116,582 | $119,733 | $122,884 |
| GS-13 | $112,400 | $116,146 | $119,893 | $123,640 | $127,387 | $131,133 | $134,880 | $138,627 | $142,374 | $146,120 |
| GS-14 | $132,822 | $137,249 | $141,676 | $146,103 | $150,530 | $154,957 | $159,384 | $163,812 | $168,239 | $172,500* |
| GS-15 | $156,235 | $161,442 | $166,650 | $171,858 | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* |
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.
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 | $26,135 | $27,012 | $27,880 | $28,745 | $29,613 | $30,122 | $30,981 | $31,847 | $31,882 | $32,692 |
| GS-2 | $29,387 | $30,086 | $31,059 | $31,882 | $32,241 | $33,189 | $34,137 | $35,085 | $36,033 | $36,981 |
| GS-3 | $32,064 | $33,133 | $34,202 | $35,270 | $36,339 | $37,407 | $38,476 | $39,544 | $40,613 | $41,681 |
| GS-4 | $35,994 | $37,194 | $38,394 | $39,593 | $40,793 | $41,993 | $43,192 | $44,392 | $45,591 | $46,791 |
| GS-5 | $40,271 | $41,614 | $42,956 | $44,299 | $45,642 | $46,984 | $48,327 | $49,670 | $51,012 | $52,355 |
| GS-6 | $44,891 | $46,387 | $47,883 | $49,380 | $50,876 | $52,372 | $53,868 | $55,365 | $56,861 | $58,357 |
| GS-7 | $49,884 | $51,547 | $53,210 | $54,873 | $56,536 | $58,199 | $59,863 | $61,526 | $63,189 | $64,852 |
| GS-8 | $55,245 | $57,087 | $58,929 | $60,771 | $62,613 | $64,455 | $66,296 | $68,138 | $69,980 | $71,822 |
| GS-9 | $61,019 | $63,052 | $65,086 | $67,120 | $69,154 | $71,188 | $73,221 | $75,255 | $77,289 | $79,323 |
| GS-10 | $67,195 | $69,436 | $71,676 | $73,917 | $76,157 | $78,397 | $80,638 | $82,878 | $85,118 | $87,359 |
| GS-11 | $73,827 | $76,288 | $78,750 | $81,211 | $83,673 | $86,134 | $88,596 | $91,057 | $93,519 | $95,980 |
| GS-12 | $88,488 | $91,438 | $94,388 | $97,339 | $100,289 | $103,239 | $106,189 | $109,139 | $112,089 | $115,039 |
| GS-13 | $105,224 | $108,731 | $112,239 | $115,746 | $119,254 | $122,761 | $126,269 | $129,776 | $133,284 | $136,791 |
| GS-14 | $124,342 | $128,487 | $132,631 | $136,776 | $140,920 | $145,064 | $149,209 | $153,353 | $157,498 | $161,642 |
| GS-15 | $146,260 | $151,135 | $156,011 | $160,886 | $165,761 | $170,637 | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* |
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.
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 | $25,614 | $26,473 | $27,324 | $28,172 | $29,023 | $29,521 | $30,364 | $31,212 | $31,246 | $32,040 |
| GS-2 | $28,801 | $29,486 | $30,440 | $31,246 | $31,598 | $32,527 | $33,456 | $34,385 | $35,314 | $36,243 |
| GS-3 | $31,425 | $32,472 | $33,520 | $34,567 | $35,614 | $36,661 | $37,709 | $38,756 | $39,803 | $40,850 |
| GS-4 | $35,277 | $36,452 | $37,628 | $38,804 | $39,980 | $41,155 | $42,331 | $43,507 | $44,682 | $45,858 |
| GS-5 | $39,468 | $40,784 | $42,100 | $43,416 | $44,732 | $46,048 | $47,363 | $48,679 | $49,995 | $51,311 |
| GS-6 | $43,996 | $45,462 | $46,929 | $48,395 | $49,862 | $51,328 | $52,794 | $54,261 | $55,727 | $57,194 |
| GS-7 | $48,890 | $50,519 | $52,149 | $53,779 | $55,409 | $57,039 | $58,669 | $60,299 | $61,929 | $63,559 |
| GS-8 | $54,144 | $55,949 | $57,754 | $59,559 | $61,364 | $63,169 | $64,975 | $66,780 | $68,585 | $70,390 |
| GS-9 | $59,802 | $61,795 | $63,788 | $65,782 | $67,775 | $69,768 | $71,762 | $73,755 | $75,748 | $77,741 |
| GS-10 | $65,856 | $68,051 | $70,247 | $72,443 | $74,639 | $76,834 | $79,030 | $81,226 | $83,421 | $85,617 |
| GS-11 | $72,355 | $74,767 | $77,179 | $79,592 | $82,004 | $84,417 | $86,829 | $89,242 | $91,654 | $94,066 |
| GS-12 | $86,724 | $89,615 | $92,507 | $95,398 | $98,289 | $101,180 | $104,072 | $106,963 | $109,854 | $112,745 |
| GS-13 | $103,126 | $106,563 | $110,001 | $113,438 | $116,876 | $120,314 | $123,751 | $127,189 | $130,626 | $134,064 |
| GS-14 | $121,863 | $125,925 | $129,987 | $134,049 | $138,110 | $142,172 | $146,234 | $150,296 | $154,358 | $158,419 |
| GS-15 | $143,344 | $148,122 | $152,900 | $157,678 | $162,456 | $167,235 | $172,013 | $172,500* | $172,500* | $172,500* |
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.
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 | $24,943 | $25,779 | $26,608 | $27,434 | $28,263 | $28,748 | $29,568 | $30,395 | $30,427 | $31,201 |
| GS-2 | $28,047 | $28,714 | $29,643 | $30,427 | $30,770 | $31,675 | $32,579 | $33,484 | $34,389 | $35,294 |
| GS-3 | $30,602 | $31,622 | $32,641 | $33,661 | $34,681 | $35,701 | $36,721 | $37,740 | $38,760 | $39,780 |
| GS-4 | $34,352 | $35,497 | $36,642 | $37,787 | $38,932 | $40,077 | $41,222 | $42,367 | $43,512 | $44,657 |
| GS-5 | $38,434 | $39,716 | $40,997 | $42,278 | $43,560 | $44,841 | $46,123 | $47,404 | $48,685 | $49,967 |
| GS-6 | $42,843 | $44,271 | $45,699 | $47,127 | $48,555 | $49,983 | $51,411 | $52,839 | $54,267 | $55,695 |
| GS-7 | $47,609 | $49,196 | $50,783 | $52,370 | $53,957 | $55,545 | $57,132 | $58,719 | $60,306 | $61,893 |
| GS-8 | $52,725 | $54,483 | $56,241 | $57,999 | $59,757 | $61,514 | $63,272 | $65,030 | $66,788 | $68,546 |
| GS-9 | $58,235 | $60,176 | $62,117 | $64,058 | $65,999 | $67,940 | $69,881 | $71,822 | $73,763 | $75,704 |
| GS-10 | $64,130 | $66,268 | $68,407 | $70,545 | $72,683 | $74,821 | $76,959 | $79,098 | $81,236 | $83,374 |
| GS-11 | $70,459 | $72,808 | $75,157 | $77,507 | $79,856 | $82,205 | $84,554 | $86,903 | $89,253 | $91,602 |
| GS-12 | $84,452 | $87,267 | $90,083 | $92,898 | $95,714 | $98,529 | $101,345 | $104,160 | $106,976 | $109,792 |
| GS-13 | $100,424 | $103,771 | $107,119 | $110,466 | $113,814 | $117,161 | $120,509 | $123,857 | $127,204 | $130,552 |
| GS-14 | $118,670 | $122,626 | $126,581 | $130,536 | $134,492 | $138,447 | $142,403 | $146,358 | $150,313 | $154,269 |
| GS-15 | $139,588 | $144,241 | $148,894 | $153,547 | $158,200 | $162,853 | $167,506 | $172,159 | $172,500* | $172,500* |
The Sacramento locality pay rate also applies to Elk Grove, Marysville, Roseville, Sacramento, McClellan, and other cities within the region.
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 | $22,886 | $23,654 | $24,414 | $25,172 | $25,932 | $26,377 | $27,130 | $27,888 | $27,918 | $28,628 |
| GS-2 | $25,734 | $26,346 | $27,198 | $27,918 | $28,233 | $29,063 | $29,893 | $30,723 | $31,553 | $32,384 |
| GS-3 | $28,078 | $29,014 | $29,950 | $30,886 | $31,821 | $32,757 | $33,693 | $34,628 | $35,564 | $36,500 |
| GS-4 | $31,520 | $32,570 | $33,621 | $34,671 | $35,722 | $36,772 | $37,823 | $38,873 | $39,924 | $40,974 |
| GS-5 | $35,265 | $36,441 | $37,616 | $38,792 | $39,968 | $41,144 | $42,319 | $43,495 | $44,671 | $45,847 |
| GS-6 | $39,311 | $40,621 | $41,931 | $43,241 | $44,551 | $45,862 | $47,172 | $48,482 | $49,792 | $51,103 |
| GS-7 | $43,683 | $45,139 | $46,596 | $48,052 | $49,508 | $50,965 | $52,421 | $53,877 | $55,334 | $56,790 |
| GS-8 | $48,378 | $49,991 | $51,604 | $53,216 | $54,829 | $56,442 | $58,055 | $59,668 | $61,281 | $62,894 |
| GS-9 | $53,433 | $55,214 | $56,995 | $58,776 | $60,557 | $62,338 | $64,119 | $65,900 | $67,681 | $69,462 |
| GS-10 | $58,842 | $60,804 | $62,766 | $64,728 | $66,690 | $68,652 | $70,614 | $72,575 | $74,537 | $76,499 |
| GS-11 | $64,649 | $66,805 | $68,960 | $71,116 | $73,271 | $75,427 | $77,582 | $79,738 | $81,893 | $84,049 |
| GS-12 | $77,488 | $80,072 | $82,655 | $85,238 | $87,822 | $90,405 | $92,988 | $95,572 | $98,155 | $100,739 |
| GS-13 | $92,143 | $95,215 | $98,286 | $101,358 | $104,429 | $107,501 | $110,572 | $113,644 | $116,715 | $119,787 |
| GS-14 | $108,885 | $112,514 | $116,144 | $119,773 | $123,402 | $127,031 | $130,661 | $134,290 | $137,919 | $141,548 |
| GS-15 | $128,078 | $132,348 | $136,617 | $140,886 | $145,155 | $149,425 | $153,694 | $157,963 | $162,233 | $166,502 |
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 $172,500, 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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