- GS pay scale 2026
- Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV
58 locality pay areasPage last changed 2026-10-22
Pittsburgh, PA GS pay scale 2026: 21.03% locality pay
In 2026 a GS-12 step 5 here earns $104,883 with 21.03% locality pay, and prices below the national average stretch it to what $110,787 buys elsewhere.
#33 on paper, #17 after prices
+16Places gained, of 57 priced areas.Buys at U.S. prices
$110,787BEA price level 94.7, for Pittsburgh, PA.Ceiling watch
1 of 150GS-15 step 10 is held to $197,200.Key facts
- Locality pay change since 2016
- +4.35 points
- Pay gap, latest council estimate
- 38.81%
- Rate the 1990 formula would set
- 32.20%
- Federal civilian jobs, 2025
- 21,074
- Share of all jobs here
- 1.61%
- Largest county by federal jobs
- Allegheny County, PA: 13,316
Every 2026 rate
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 27,333 | 28,250 | 29,159 | 30,064 | 30,970 | 31,502 | 32,401 | 33,306 | 33,344 | 34,189 |
| GS-2 | 30,733 | 31,464 | 32,483 | 33,344 | 33,717 | 34,708 | 35,699 | 36,690 | 37,681 | 38,673 |
| GS-3 | 33,535 | 34,653 | 35,772 | 36,890 | 38,008 | 39,127 | 40,245 | 41,363 | 42,482 | 43,600 |
| GS-4 | 37,644 | 38,899 | 40,154 | 41,409 | 42,664 | 43,919 | 45,174 | 46,430 | 47,685 | 48,940 |
| GS-5 | 42,117 | 43,521 | 44,925 | 46,329 | 47,733 | 49,137 | 50,541 | 51,945 | 53,349 | 54,753 |
| GS-6 | 46,949 | 48,514 | 50,079 | 51,644 | 53,208 | 54,773 | 56,338 | 57,903 | 59,468 | 61,033 |
| GS-7 | 52,171 | 53,910 | 55,650 | 57,389 | 59,128 | 60,867 | 62,606 | 64,346 | 66,085 | 67,824 |
| GS-8 | 57,777 | 59,703 | 61,628 | 63,554 | 65,480 | 67,405 | 69,331 | 71,256 | 73,182 | 75,108 |
| GS-9 | 63,815 | 65,943 | 68,071 | 70,199 | 72,326 | 74,454 | 76,582 | 78,709 | 80,837 | 82,965 |
| GS-10 | 70,275 | 72,617 | 74,959 | 77,301 | 79,643 | 81,985 | 84,326 | 86,668 | 89,010 | 91,352 |
| GS-11 | 77,211 | 79,785 | 82,360 | 84,934 | 87,508 | 90,083 | 92,657 | 95,231 | 97,806 | 100,380 |
| GS-12 | 92,543 | 95,628 | 98,713 | 101,798 | 104,883 | 107,968 | 111,053 | 114,139 | 117,224 | 120,309 |
| GS-13 | 110,047 | 113,715 | 117,383 | 121,052 | 124,720 | 128,389 | 132,057 | 135,725 | 139,394 | 143,062 |
| GS-14 | 130,042 | 134,377 | 138,712 | 143,048 | 147,383 | 151,718 | 156,054 | 160,389 | 164,724 | 169,060 |
| GS-15 | 152,963 | 158,062 | 163,161 | 168,260 | 173,359 | 178,458 | 183,557 | 188,656 | 193,755 | 197,200 |
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 13.10 | 13.54 | 13.97 | 14.41 | 14.84 | 15.09 | 15.53 | 15.96 | 15.98 | 16.38 |
| GS-2 | 14.73 | 15.08 | 15.56 | 15.98 | 16.16 | 16.63 | 17.11 | 17.58 | 18.06 | 18.53 |
| GS-3 | 16.07 | 16.60 | 17.14 | 17.68 | 18.21 | 18.75 | 19.28 | 19.82 | 20.36 | 20.89 |
| GS-4 | 18.04 | 18.64 | 19.24 | 19.84 | 20.44 | 21.04 | 21.65 | 22.25 | 22.85 | 23.45 |
| GS-5 | 20.18 | 20.85 | 21.53 | 22.20 | 22.87 | 23.54 | 24.22 | 24.89 | 25.56 | 26.24 |
| GS-6 | 22.50 | 23.25 | 24.00 | 24.75 | 25.49 | 26.24 | 26.99 | 27.74 | 28.49 | 29.24 |
| GS-7 | 25.00 | 25.83 | 26.67 | 27.50 | 28.33 | 29.16 | 30.00 | 30.83 | 31.67 | 32.50 |
| GS-8 | 27.68 | 28.61 | 29.53 | 30.45 | 31.38 | 32.30 | 33.22 | 34.14 | 35.07 | 35.99 |
| GS-9 | 30.58 | 31.60 | 32.62 | 33.64 | 34.66 | 35.68 | 36.69 | 37.71 | 38.73 | 39.75 |
| GS-10 | 33.67 | 34.79 | 35.92 | 37.04 | 38.16 | 39.28 | 40.41 | 41.53 | 42.65 | 43.77 |
| GS-11 | 37.00 | 38.23 | 39.46 | 40.70 | 41.93 | 43.16 | 44.40 | 45.63 | 46.86 | 48.10 |
| GS-12 | 44.34 | 45.82 | 47.30 | 48.78 | 50.26 | 51.73 | 53.21 | 54.69 | 56.17 | 57.65 |
| GS-13 | 52.73 | 54.49 | 56.24 | 58.00 | 59.76 | 61.52 | 63.28 | 65.03 | 66.79 | 68.55 |
| GS-14 | 62.31 | 64.39 | 66.46 | 68.54 | 70.62 | 72.70 | 74.77 | 76.85 | 78.93 | 81.01 |
| GS-15 | 73.29 | 75.74 | 78.18 | 80.62 | 83.07 | 85.51 | 87.95 | 90.40 | 92.84 | 94.49 |
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 1,048.00 | 1,083.20 | 1,117.60 | 1,152.80 | 1,187.20 | 1,207.20 | 1,242.40 | 1,276.80 | 1,278.40 | 1,310.40 |
| GS-2 | 1,178.40 | 1,206.40 | 1,244.80 | 1,278.40 | 1,292.80 | 1,330.40 | 1,368.80 | 1,406.40 | 1,444.80 | 1,482.40 |
| GS-3 | 1,285.60 | 1,328.00 | 1,371.20 | 1,414.40 | 1,456.80 | 1,500.00 | 1,542.40 | 1,585.60 | 1,628.80 | 1,671.20 |
| GS-4 | 1,443.20 | 1,491.20 | 1,539.20 | 1,587.20 | 1,635.20 | 1,683.20 | 1,732.00 | 1,780.00 | 1,828.00 | 1,876.00 |
| GS-5 | 1,614.40 | 1,668.00 | 1,722.40 | 1,776.00 | 1,829.60 | 1,883.20 | 1,937.60 | 1,991.20 | 2,044.80 | 2,099.20 |
| GS-6 | 1,800.00 | 1,860.00 | 1,920.00 | 1,980.00 | 2,039.20 | 2,099.20 | 2,159.20 | 2,219.20 | 2,279.20 | 2,339.20 |
| GS-7 | 2,000.00 | 2,066.40 | 2,133.60 | 2,200.00 | 2,266.40 | 2,332.80 | 2,400.00 | 2,466.40 | 2,533.60 | 2,600.00 |
| GS-8 | 2,214.40 | 2,288.80 | 2,362.40 | 2,436.00 | 2,510.40 | 2,584.00 | 2,657.60 | 2,731.20 | 2,805.60 | 2,879.20 |
| GS-9 | 2,446.40 | 2,528.00 | 2,609.60 | 2,691.20 | 2,772.80 | 2,854.40 | 2,935.20 | 3,016.80 | 3,098.40 | 3,180.00 |
| GS-10 | 2,693.60 | 2,783.20 | 2,873.60 | 2,963.20 | 3,052.80 | 3,142.40 | 3,232.80 | 3,322.40 | 3,412.00 | 3,501.60 |
| GS-11 | 2,960.00 | 3,058.40 | 3,156.80 | 3,256.00 | 3,354.40 | 3,452.80 | 3,552.00 | 3,650.40 | 3,748.80 | 3,848.00 |
| GS-12 | 3,547.20 | 3,665.60 | 3,784.00 | 3,902.40 | 4,020.80 | 4,138.40 | 4,256.80 | 4,375.20 | 4,493.60 | 4,612.00 |
| GS-13 | 4,218.40 | 4,359.20 | 4,499.20 | 4,640.00 | 4,780.80 | 4,921.60 | 5,062.40 | 5,202.40 | 5,343.20 | 5,484.00 |
| GS-14 | 4,984.80 | 5,151.20 | 5,316.80 | 5,483.20 | 5,649.60 | 5,816.00 | 5,981.60 | 6,148.00 | 6,314.40 | 6,480.80 |
| GS-15 | 5,863.20 | 6,059.20 | 6,254.40 | 6,449.60 | 6,645.60 | 6,840.80 | 7,036.00 | 7,232.00 | 7,427.20 | 7,559.20 |
After local prices
| # | Locality | On paper | Price level | What it buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | $114,459 | 102.7 | $111,400 |
| 15 | Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | $105,854 | 95.5 | $110,878 |
| 16 | Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | $105,663 | 95.4 | $110,793 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | $104,883 | 94.7 | $110,787 |
| 18 | Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | $106,079 | 95.8 | $110,679 |
| 19 | Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | $101,937 | 92.7 | $109,999 |
| 20 | Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | $113,402 | 103.6 | $109,467 |
Prices here are those of the Pittsburgh, PA metro area, 94.7. The area’s name also takes in Weirton: BEA puts the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH metro area at 89.0, and at that level GS-12 step 5 here would buy $117,814.
Cheap rent sets this area apart: BEA puts housing at 72.0, the fourth-lowest of the 57 areas with a price index and 28.5% below the U.S. level, while all prices together are 5.3% below the U.S. level, at 94.7.
| Kind of spending | Here | U.S. | Rank of 57 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods | 100.7 | 99.6 | #18 (tied) |
| Housing (rent) | 72.0 | 100.6 | #54 |
| Utilities | 107.7 | 98.4 | #17 |
| Other services | 97.7 | 100.1 | #44 (tied) |
| All items | 94.7 | 100.0 | #46 (tied) |
Locality pay since 2016
16.68% in 2016, 21.03% in 2026, up 4.35 points; Rest of U.S. up 2.71: chart and table
| Locality pay, % | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh, PA | 16.68 | 17.86 | 18.35 | 18.86 | 19.40 | 19.40 | 19.90 | 20.37 | 20.78 | 21.03 | 21.03 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35 | 15.06 | 15.37 | 15.67 | 15.95 | 15.95 | 16.20 | 16.50 | 16.82 | 17.06 | 17.06 |
The 1990 pay law’s formula
| Edition, for pay in | Data as of | Listed as | Pay gap, % | Formula rate, % | Rate paid that year, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 2024 | Locality pay area | 38.81 | 32.20 | 21.03 |
| 2025 | March 2023 | Locality pay area | 41.96 | 35.20 | 21.03 |
| 2024 | March 2022 | Locality pay area | 42.01 | 35.25 | 20.78 |
| 2023 | March 2021 | Locality pay area | 40.76 | 34.06 | 20.37 |
| 2022 | March 2020 | Locality pay area | 41.45 | 34.71 | 19.90 |
| 2021 | March 2019 | Locality pay area | 45.09 | 38.18 | 19.40 |
| 2020 | March 2018 | Locality pay area | 48.98 | 41.89 | 19.40 |
| 2019 | March 2017 | Locality pay area | 48.86 | 41.77 | 18.86 |
| 2018 | March 2016 | Locality pay area | 47.95 | 40.90 | 18.35 |
The formula would pay Pittsburgh, PA 32.20%, 11.17 points above the 21.03% paid in 2026, the third-narrowest distance between formula and pay of the 57 areas with a formula rate.
Federal jobs
21,074 federal civilian jobs in 2025, 600 fewer than in 2024, down 2.77%: table
| Year | Federal civilian jobs | Share of all jobs, % | Average pay per job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 21,394 | 1.64 | $86,318 |
| 2024 | 21,674 | 1.66 | $89,592 |
| 2025 | 21,074 | 1.61 | $94,303 |
Counties
18 counties paid at this rate
Ohio, 2 counties
- Belmont County (added 2024)
- Jefferson County
Pennsylvania, 12 counties
- Allegheny County
- Armstrong County
- Beaver County
- Butler County
- Cambria County (added 2024)
- Fayette County
- Greene County (added 2024)
- Indiana County
- Lawrence County
- Somerset County (added 2024)
- Washington County
- Westmoreland County
West Virginia, 4 counties
- Brooke County
- Hancock County
- Marshall County (added 2024)
- Ohio County (added 2024)