- GS pay scale 2026
- State of Hawaii
58 locality pay areasPage last changed 2026-10-22
Hawaii GS pay scale 2026: 22.21% locality pay
In 2026 a GS-12 step 5 here earns $105,906 with 22.21% locality pay, but prices above the national average cut what it buys to $96,321 at U.S. prices.
#27 on paper, #56 after prices
−29Places lost, of 57 priced areas.Buys at U.S. prices
$96,321BEA price level 110.0, for State of Hawaii.Ceiling watch
1 of 150GS-15 step 10 is held to $197,200.Key facts
- Locality pay change since 2016
- +5.40 points
- Pay gap, latest council estimate
- 49.02%
- Rate the 1990 formula would set
- 41.92%
- Federal civilian jobs, 2025
- 34,914
- Share of all jobs here
- 5.42%
- Largest county by federal jobs
- Honolulu County, HI: 31,687
Every 2026 rate
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 27,600 | 28,525 | 29,443 | 30,357 | 31,272 | 31,809 | 32,717 | 33,631 | 33,669 | 34,522 |
| GS-2 | 31,033 | 31,771 | 32,800 | 33,669 | 34,045 | 35,046 | 36,047 | 37,048 | 38,049 | 39,050 |
| GS-3 | 33,862 | 34,991 | 36,120 | 37,250 | 38,379 | 39,508 | 40,637 | 41,766 | 42,896 | 44,025 |
| GS-4 | 38,011 | 39,278 | 40,546 | 41,813 | 43,080 | 44,348 | 45,615 | 46,882 | 48,150 | 49,417 |
| GS-5 | 42,528 | 43,945 | 45,363 | 46,781 | 48,198 | 49,616 | 51,034 | 52,451 | 53,869 | 55,287 |
| GS-6 | 47,406 | 48,987 | 50,567 | 52,147 | 53,727 | 55,307 | 56,888 | 58,468 | 60,048 | 61,628 |
| GS-7 | 52,680 | 54,436 | 56,192 | 57,948 | 59,704 | 61,461 | 63,217 | 64,973 | 66,729 | 68,485 |
| GS-8 | 58,341 | 60,285 | 62,229 | 64,174 | 66,118 | 68,062 | 70,007 | 71,951 | 73,895 | 75,840 |
| GS-9 | 64,438 | 66,586 | 68,735 | 70,883 | 73,031 | 75,180 | 77,328 | 79,477 | 81,625 | 83,774 |
| GS-10 | 70,960 | 73,325 | 75,690 | 78,054 | 80,419 | 82,784 | 85,149 | 87,513 | 89,878 | 92,243 |
| GS-11 | 77,964 | 80,563 | 83,163 | 85,762 | 88,361 | 90,961 | 93,560 | 96,160 | 98,759 | 101,359 |
| GS-12 | 93,445 | 96,561 | 99,676 | 102,791 | 105,906 | 109,021 | 112,136 | 115,251 | 118,366 | 121,482 |
| GS-13 | 111,119 | 114,824 | 118,528 | 122,232 | 125,936 | 129,640 | 133,345 | 137,049 | 140,753 | 144,457 |
| GS-14 | 131,310 | 135,687 | 140,065 | 144,442 | 148,820 | 153,198 | 157,575 | 161,953 | 166,330 | 170,708 |
| GS-15 | 154,454 | 159,603 | 164,751 | 169,900 | 175,049 | 180,197 | 185,346 | 190,495 | 195,644 | 197,200 |
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 13.22 | 13.67 | 14.11 | 14.55 | 14.98 | 15.24 | 15.68 | 16.11 | 16.13 | 16.54 |
| GS-2 | 14.87 | 15.22 | 15.72 | 16.13 | 16.31 | 16.79 | 17.27 | 17.75 | 18.23 | 18.71 |
| GS-3 | 16.23 | 16.77 | 17.31 | 17.85 | 18.39 | 18.93 | 19.47 | 20.01 | 20.55 | 21.09 |
| GS-4 | 18.21 | 18.82 | 19.43 | 20.03 | 20.64 | 21.25 | 21.86 | 22.46 | 23.07 | 23.68 |
| GS-5 | 20.38 | 21.06 | 21.74 | 22.42 | 23.09 | 23.77 | 24.45 | 25.13 | 25.81 | 26.49 |
| GS-6 | 22.71 | 23.47 | 24.23 | 24.99 | 25.74 | 26.50 | 27.26 | 28.02 | 28.77 | 29.53 |
| GS-7 | 25.24 | 26.08 | 26.92 | 27.77 | 28.61 | 29.45 | 30.29 | 31.13 | 31.97 | 32.82 |
| GS-8 | 27.95 | 28.89 | 29.82 | 30.75 | 31.68 | 32.61 | 33.54 | 34.48 | 35.41 | 36.34 |
| GS-9 | 30.88 | 31.91 | 32.93 | 33.96 | 34.99 | 36.02 | 37.05 | 38.08 | 39.11 | 40.14 |
| GS-10 | 34.00 | 35.13 | 36.27 | 37.40 | 38.53 | 39.67 | 40.80 | 41.93 | 43.07 | 44.20 |
| GS-11 | 37.36 | 38.60 | 39.85 | 41.09 | 42.34 | 43.58 | 44.83 | 46.08 | 47.32 | 48.57 |
| GS-12 | 44.77 | 46.27 | 47.76 | 49.25 | 50.75 | 52.24 | 53.73 | 55.22 | 56.72 | 58.21 |
| GS-13 | 53.24 | 55.02 | 56.79 | 58.57 | 60.34 | 62.12 | 63.89 | 65.67 | 67.44 | 69.22 |
| GS-14 | 62.92 | 65.02 | 67.11 | 69.21 | 71.31 | 73.41 | 75.50 | 77.60 | 79.70 | 81.80 |
| GS-15 | 74.01 | 76.47 | 78.94 | 81.41 | 83.88 | 86.34 | 88.81 | 91.28 | 93.74 | 94.49 |
| Grade | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | 1,057.60 | 1,093.60 | 1,128.80 | 1,164.00 | 1,198.40 | 1,219.20 | 1,254.40 | 1,288.80 | 1,290.40 | 1,323.20 |
| GS-2 | 1,189.60 | 1,217.60 | 1,257.60 | 1,290.40 | 1,304.80 | 1,343.20 | 1,381.60 | 1,420.00 | 1,458.40 | 1,496.80 |
| GS-3 | 1,298.40 | 1,341.60 | 1,384.80 | 1,428.00 | 1,471.20 | 1,514.40 | 1,557.60 | 1,600.80 | 1,644.00 | 1,687.20 |
| GS-4 | 1,456.80 | 1,505.60 | 1,554.40 | 1,602.40 | 1,651.20 | 1,700.00 | 1,748.80 | 1,796.80 | 1,845.60 | 1,894.40 |
| GS-5 | 1,630.40 | 1,684.80 | 1,739.20 | 1,793.60 | 1,847.20 | 1,901.60 | 1,956.00 | 2,010.40 | 2,064.80 | 2,119.20 |
| GS-6 | 1,816.80 | 1,877.60 | 1,938.40 | 1,999.20 | 2,059.20 | 2,120.00 | 2,180.80 | 2,241.60 | 2,301.60 | 2,362.40 |
| GS-7 | 2,019.20 | 2,086.40 | 2,153.60 | 2,221.60 | 2,288.80 | 2,356.00 | 2,423.20 | 2,490.40 | 2,557.60 | 2,625.60 |
| GS-8 | 2,236.00 | 2,311.20 | 2,385.60 | 2,460.00 | 2,534.40 | 2,608.80 | 2,683.20 | 2,758.40 | 2,832.80 | 2,907.20 |
| GS-9 | 2,470.40 | 2,552.80 | 2,634.40 | 2,716.80 | 2,799.20 | 2,881.60 | 2,964.00 | 3,046.40 | 3,128.80 | 3,211.20 |
| GS-10 | 2,720.00 | 2,810.40 | 2,901.60 | 2,992.00 | 3,082.40 | 3,173.60 | 3,264.00 | 3,354.40 | 3,445.60 | 3,536.00 |
| GS-11 | 2,988.80 | 3,088.00 | 3,188.00 | 3,287.20 | 3,387.20 | 3,486.40 | 3,586.40 | 3,686.40 | 3,785.60 | 3,885.60 |
| GS-12 | 3,581.60 | 3,701.60 | 3,820.80 | 3,940.00 | 4,060.00 | 4,179.20 | 4,298.40 | 4,417.60 | 4,537.60 | 4,656.80 |
| GS-13 | 4,259.20 | 4,401.60 | 4,543.20 | 4,685.60 | 4,827.20 | 4,969.60 | 5,111.20 | 5,253.60 | 5,395.20 | 5,537.60 |
| GS-14 | 5,033.60 | 5,201.60 | 5,368.80 | 5,536.80 | 5,704.80 | 5,872.80 | 6,040.00 | 6,208.00 | 6,376.00 | 6,544.00 |
| GS-15 | 5,920.80 | 6,117.60 | 6,315.20 | 6,512.80 | 6,710.40 | 6,907.20 | 7,104.80 | 7,302.40 | 7,499.20 | 7,559.20 |
After local prices
| # | Locality | On paper | Price level | What it buys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID | $101,972 | 100.3 | $101,620 |
| 54 | Reno-Fernley, NV | $101,842 | 101.0 | $100,820 |
| 55 | Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | $101,954 | 102.2 | $99,800 |
| 56 | State of Hawaii | $105,906 | 110.0 | $96,321 |
| 57 | Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | $108,038 | 114.2 | $94,641 |
A GS-12 step 5 here buys $96,321 at national average prices, the second-least of the 57 areas with a price index.
Here it is goods and utilities, not rent, that stand out: goods, at 111.6, and utilities, at 190.2, are each the highest of the 57 areas with a price index.
| Kind of spending | Here | U.S. | Rank of 57 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goods | 111.6 | 99.6 | #1 |
| Housing (rent) | 125.3 | 100.6 | #11 |
| Utilities | 190.2 | 98.4 | #1 |
| Other services | 102.9 | 100.1 | #9 |
| All items | 110.0 | 100.0 | #7 |
Prices here have been rising faster than in the country as a whole: BLS consumer prices for the Urban Hawaii area rose 5.2% in the twelve months to September 2026, against 3.7% for the U.S. city average over the same months.
Locality pay since 2016
| Locality pay, % | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hawaii | 16.81 | 17.92 | 18.43 | 18.98 | 19.56 | 19.56 | 20.40 | 21.17 | 21.79 | 22.21 | 22.21 |
| 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 |
Through 2009 white-collar federal employees in Hawaii received no locality pay: they were paid a nonforeign-area cost-of-living allowance instead, 25% in Honolulu, Kauai and Maui and 18% in Hawaii County, which was exempt from federal income tax and did not count toward retirement. The Nonforeign Area Retirement Equity Assurance Act of 2009 (sections 1911 to 1919 of Public Law 111-84) phased locality pay in by thirds, 4.72% in 2010, 11.01% in 2011 and the full 16.51% from 2012, while the allowance in Honolulu, Kauai and Maui fell to 20.94%, 16.07% and 12.25%. Unlike the allowance, locality pay is taxed as pay and counts as basic pay for retirement. In 2026 the 22.21% locality payment comes with an allowance of 8.64% in Honolulu, Kauai and Maui and 2.91% in Hawaii County. Sources: OPM, nonforeign areas, on the 2009 law; Senate Report 110-456, the committee report on S. 3013, the 2008 bill that proposed the change, on tax and retirement.
The 1990 pay law’s formula
Formula 41.92%, paid 22.21%: 19.71 points apart (median 18.40); nine editions: table
| Edition, for pay in | Data as of | Listed as | Pay gap, % | Formula rate, % | Rate paid that year, % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | March 2024 | Locality pay area | 49.02 | 41.92 | 22.21 |
| 2025 | March 2023 | Locality pay area | 53.49 | 46.18 | 22.21 |
| 2024 | March 2022 | Locality pay area | 50.99 | 43.80 | 21.79 |
| 2023 | March 2021 | Locality pay area | 50.79 | 43.61 | 21.17 |
| 2022 | March 2020 | Locality pay area | 52.31 | 45.06 | 20.40 |
| 2021 | March 2019 | Locality pay area | 53.53 | 46.22 | 19.56 |
| 2020 | March 2018 | Locality pay area | 50.82 | 43.64 | 19.56 |
| 2019 | March 2017 | Locality pay area | 50.93 | 43.74 | 18.98 |
| 2018 | March 2016 | Locality pay area | 48.80 | 41.71 | 18.43 |
Federal jobs
| Year | Federal civilian jobs | Share of all jobs, % | Average pay per job |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 35,129 | 5.54 | $93,709 |
| 2024 | 35,680 | 5.58 | $97,025 |
| 2025 | 34,914 | 5.42 | $100,302 |
Because the area is the whole state, the count includes the 555 jobs BLS reports there without a county.
The whole state of Hawaii
The area is the state of Hawaii itself rather than a list of counties: every duty station in it is paid from this one table.