General Schedule (GS) Payscale in California for 2026

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: 46.34%

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 46.34% 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	$33,049	$34,157	$35,256	$36,351	$37,447	$38,089	$39,177	$40,271	$40,317	$41,338
GS-2	$37,160	$38,044	$39,276	$40,317	$40,767	$41,966	$43,164	$44,363	$45,561	$46,760
GS-3	$40,548	$41,900	$43,252	$44,604	$45,957	$47,309	$48,661	$50,013	$51,365	$52,718
GS-4	$45,516	$47,034	$48,551	$50,069	$51,586	$53,104	$54,621	$56,139	$57,656	$59,174
GS-5	$50,925	$52,622	$54,320	$56,017	$57,715	$59,413	$61,110	$62,808	$64,505	$66,203
GS-6	$56,767	$58,659	$60,551	$62,443	$64,335	$66,228	$68,120	$70,012	$71,904	$73,796
GS-7	$63,081	$65,184	$67,287	$69,390	$71,493	$73,596	$75,699	$77,802	$79,905	$82,007
GS-8	$69,860	$72,188	$74,516	$76,845	$79,173	$81,501	$83,829	$86,158	$88,486	$90,814
GS-9	$77,161	$79,733	$82,306	$84,879	$87,451	$90,024	$92,597	$95,169	$97,742	$100,315
GS-10	$84,971	$87,803	$90,634	$93,466	$96,298	$99,129	$101,961	$104,793	$107,624	$110,456
GS-11	$93,358	$96,470	$99,583	$102,696	$105,808	$108,921	$112,034	$115,146	$118,259	$121,371
GS-12	$111,896	$115,626	$119,356	$123,087	$126,817	$130,547	$134,277	$138,007	$141,738	$145,468
GS-13	$133,060	$137,495	$141,931	$146,366	$150,802	$155,237	$159,673	$164,109	$168,544	$172,980
GS-14	$157,236	$162,478	$167,720	$172,962	$178,204	$183,446	$188,688	$193,930	$197,200*	$197,200*
GS-15	$184,950	$191,116	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*

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: 36.47%

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 36.47% 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	$30,820	$31,853	$32,878	$33,899	$34,921	$35,520	$36,534	$37,555	$37,597	$38,550
GS-2	$34,654	$35,478	$36,627	$37,597	$38,018	$39,136	$40,253	$41,371	$42,489	$43,606
GS-3	$37,813	$39,074	$40,335	$41,596	$42,857	$44,118	$45,379	$46,640	$47,901	$49,162
GS-4	$42,446	$43,861	$45,277	$46,692	$48,107	$49,522	$50,937	$52,353	$53,768	$55,183
GS-5	$47,490	$49,073	$50,656	$52,239	$53,822	$55,405	$56,989	$58,572	$60,155	$61,738
GS-6	$52,938	$54,703	$56,467	$58,232	$59,996	$61,761	$63,525	$65,290	$67,055	$68,819
GS-7	$58,827	$60,788	$62,749	$64,710	$66,671	$68,632	$70,593	$72,554	$74,515	$76,476
GS-8	$65,148	$67,319	$69,491	$71,662	$73,833	$76,004	$78,175	$80,347	$82,518	$84,689
GS-9	$71,957	$74,356	$76,755	$79,154	$81,553	$83,952	$86,351	$88,751	$91,150	$93,549
GS-10	$79,240	$81,881	$84,521	$87,162	$89,803	$92,443	$95,084	$97,725	$100,365	$103,006
GS-11	$87,061	$89,964	$92,866	$95,769	$98,672	$101,575	$104,477	$107,380	$110,283	$113,185
GS-12	$104,349	$107,828	$111,306	$114,785	$118,264	$121,742	$125,221	$128,699	$132,178	$135,657
GS-13	$124,085	$128,222	$132,358	$136,495	$140,631	$144,767	$148,904	$153,040	$157,177	$161,313
GS-14	$146,632	$151,520	$156,408	$161,297	$166,185	$171,073	$175,962	$180,850	$185,738	$190,627
GS-15	$172,476	$178,226	$183,975	$189,725	$195,474	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*

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: 33.72%

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 33.72% 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	$30,199	$31,212	$32,216	$33,216	$34,218	$34,805	$35,798	$36,798	$36,840	$37,773
GS-2	$33,956	$34,763	$35,889	$36,840	$37,252	$38,347	$39,442	$40,537	$41,632	$42,728
GS-3	$37,051	$38,287	$39,522	$40,758	$41,993	$43,229	$44,465	$45,700	$46,936	$48,171
GS-4	$41,591	$42,978	$44,364	$45,751	$47,138	$48,524	$49,911	$51,298	$52,684	$54,071
GS-5	$46,533	$48,084	$49,636	$51,187	$52,738	$54,289	$55,840	$57,391	$58,942	$60,494
GS-6	$51,871	$53,600	$55,329	$57,058	$58,787	$60,516	$62,245	$63,974	$65,703	$67,432
GS-7	$57,641	$59,563	$61,484	$63,406	$65,328	$67,249	$69,171	$71,092	$73,014	$74,935
GS-8	$63,835	$65,963	$68,090	$70,218	$72,345	$74,473	$76,600	$78,728	$80,855	$82,983
GS-9	$70,507	$72,857	$75,208	$77,559	$79,910	$82,261	$84,611	$86,962	$89,313	$91,664
GS-10	$77,643	$80,231	$82,818	$85,406	$87,993	$90,581	$93,168	$95,756	$98,343	$100,931
GS-11	$85,307	$88,151	$90,995	$93,839	$96,684	$99,528	$102,372	$105,216	$108,060	$110,905
GS-12	$102,246	$105,655	$109,063	$112,472	$115,880	$119,289	$122,697	$126,106	$129,515	$132,923
GS-13	$121,585	$125,638	$129,691	$133,744	$137,797	$141,850	$145,903	$149,956	$154,009	$158,062
GS-14	$143,677	$148,467	$153,256	$158,046	$162,836	$167,626	$172,416	$177,206	$181,996	$186,785
GS-15	$169,001	$174,634	$180,268	$185,902	$191,535	$197,169	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*

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: 29.76%

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 29.76% 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	$29,305	$30,287	$31,262	$32,232	$33,204	$33,774	$34,738	$35,709	$35,749	$36,655
GS-2	$32,950	$33,734	$34,826	$35,749	$36,149	$37,211	$38,274	$39,337	$40,399	$41,462
GS-3	$35,954	$37,153	$38,352	$39,551	$40,750	$41,949	$43,148	$44,347	$45,546	$46,745
GS-4	$40,359	$41,705	$43,050	$44,396	$45,742	$47,087	$48,433	$49,779	$51,124	$52,470
GS-5	$45,155	$46,660	$48,166	$49,671	$51,176	$52,681	$54,186	$55,692	$57,197	$58,702
GS-6	$50,335	$52,013	$53,691	$55,369	$57,046	$58,724	$60,402	$62,080	$63,758	$65,435
GS-7	$55,934	$57,799	$59,664	$61,528	$63,393	$65,258	$67,122	$68,987	$70,852	$72,716
GS-8	$61,945	$64,009	$66,074	$68,138	$70,203	$72,267	$74,332	$76,396	$78,461	$80,525
GS-9	$68,419	$70,700	$72,981	$75,262	$77,543	$79,824	$82,106	$84,387	$86,668	$88,949
GS-10	$75,344	$77,855	$80,366	$82,876	$85,387	$87,898	$90,409	$92,920	$95,431	$97,942
GS-11	$82,780	$85,540	$88,300	$91,060	$93,820	$96,580	$99,340	$102,100	$104,860	$107,620
GS-12	$99,218	$102,526	$105,834	$109,141	$112,449	$115,756	$119,064	$122,371	$125,679	$128,987
GS-13	$117,984	$121,917	$125,850	$129,783	$133,716	$137,649	$141,582	$145,515	$149,448	$153,382
GS-14	$139,422	$144,070	$148,718	$153,366	$158,014	$162,662	$167,310	$171,958	$176,606	$181,254
GS-15	$163,996	$169,463	$174,929	$180,396	$185,863	$191,330	$196,797	$197,200*	$197,200*	$197,200*

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

FRESNO-MADERA-HANFORD, CA Print Locality Adjustment: 17.65%

The FRESNO-MADERA-HANFORD, CA General Schedule locality region applies to government employees who work in Fresno and surrounding areas. General Schedule employees who work within this region are paid 17.65% 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	$26,570	$27,461	$28,344	$29,224	$30,105	$30,622	$31,496	$32,376	$32,413	$33,234
GS-2	$29,875	$30,585	$31,576	$32,413	$32,775	$33,738	$34,702	$35,666	$36,629	$37,593
GS-3	$32,598	$33,686	$34,773	$35,860	$36,947	$38,034	$39,121	$40,208	$41,295	$42,382
GS-4	$36,593	$37,813	$39,033	$40,253	$41,473	$42,693	$43,913	$45,133	$46,353	$47,573
GS-5	$40,941	$42,306	$43,671	$45,035	$46,400	$47,765	$49,129	$50,494	$51,859	$53,224
GS-6	$45,638	$47,159	$48,680	$50,201	$51,722	$53,244	$54,765	$56,286	$57,807	$59,329
GS-7	$50,714	$52,405	$54,095	$55,786	$57,477	$59,167	$60,858	$62,549	$64,239	$65,930
GS-8	$56,164	$58,036	$59,907	$61,779	$63,651	$65,523	$67,395	$69,266	$71,138	$73,010
GS-9	$62,033	$64,102	$66,170	$68,238	$70,306	$72,375	$74,443	$76,511	$78,580	$80,648
GS-10	$68,312	$70,589	$72,865	$75,142	$77,418	$79,695	$81,971	$84,248	$86,525	$88,801
GS-11	$75,055	$77,557	$80,060	$82,562	$85,064	$87,567	$90,069	$92,572	$95,074	$97,577
GS-12	$89,959	$92,958	$95,957	$98,955	$101,954	$104,953	$107,952	$110,951	$113,950	$116,949
GS-13	$106,973	$110,539	$114,105	$117,671	$121,237	$124,803	$128,369	$131,935	$135,501	$139,067
GS-14	$126,410	$130,624	$134,839	$139,053	$143,267	$147,481	$151,696	$155,910	$160,124	$164,338
GS-15	$148,691	$153,647	$158,604	$163,561	$168,517	$173,474	$178,430	$183,387	$188,344	$193,300

The Fresno locality pay rate also applies to Clovis, Fresno, Lemoore, San Joaquin, Visalia, and other cities within the region.

Rest of California Print Locality Adjustment: 17.06%

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 17.06% (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	$26,437	$27,323	$28,202	$29,078	$29,954	$30,468	$31,338	$32,214	$32,250	$33,067
GS-2	$29,725	$30,432	$31,418	$32,250	$32,611	$33,569	$34,528	$35,487	$36,445	$37,404
GS-3	$32,435	$33,517	$34,598	$35,680	$36,762	$37,843	$38,925	$40,006	$41,088	$42,170
GS-4	$36,409	$37,623	$38,837	$40,051	$41,265	$42,479	$43,693	$44,907	$46,120	$47,334
GS-5	$40,736	$42,094	$43,452	$44,809	$46,167	$47,525	$48,883	$50,241	$51,599	$52,957
GS-6	$45,409	$46,922	$48,436	$49,950	$51,463	$52,977	$54,490	$56,004	$57,517	$59,031
GS-7	$50,460	$52,142	$53,824	$55,506	$57,188	$58,871	$60,553	$62,235	$63,917	$65,599
GS-8	$55,882	$57,745	$59,607	$61,469	$63,332	$65,194	$67,057	$68,919	$70,781	$72,644
GS-9	$61,722	$63,780	$65,838	$67,896	$69,954	$72,012	$74,070	$76,128	$78,186	$80,243
GS-10	$67,970	$70,235	$72,500	$74,765	$77,030	$79,295	$81,560	$83,825	$86,091	$88,356
GS-11	$74,678	$77,168	$79,658	$82,148	$84,638	$87,128	$89,618	$92,107	$94,597	$97,087
GS-12	$89,508	$92,491	$95,475	$98,459	$101,443	$104,427	$107,411	$110,395	$113,378	$116,362
GS-13	$106,437	$109,985	$113,533	$117,081	$120,629	$124,177	$127,725	$131,273	$134,822	$138,370
GS-14	$125,776	$129,969	$134,162	$138,356	$142,549	$146,742	$150,935	$155,128	$159,321	$163,514
GS-15	$147,945	$152,877	$157,809	$162,740	$167,672	$172,604	$177,536	$182,467	$187,399	$192,331

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 $197,200, 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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