GS-15 Pay — Cincinnati-Wilmington (2026)

$174,648
A GS-15 Step 5 in Cincinnati-Wilmington earns $174,648 in 2026. Across all ten steps, GS-15 in Cincinnati-Wilmington ranges $154,100–$197,200.
Cincinnati-Wilmington locality pay: 21.93% · effective January 11, 2026

This page shows GS-15 pay in the Cincinnati-Wilmington locality pay area for 2026. The Cincinnati-Wilmington area adds 21.93% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.

StepAnnualHourlyBi-weekly
Step 1$154,100$73.84$5,907.20
Step 2$159,237$76.30$6,104.00
Step 3$164,374$78.76$6,300.80
Step 4$169,511$81.22$6,497.60
Step 5$174,648$83.68$6,694.40
Step 6$179,785$86.15$6,892.00
Step 7$184,921$88.61$7,088.80
Step 8$190,058$91.07$7,285.60
Step 9$195,195$93.53$7,482.40
Step 10$197,200 *$94.49$7,559.20

* Capped at Level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200 in 2026) — GS locality-adjusted pay cannot exceed the EX-IV cap (5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(1)).

Locality pay is calculated as the base rate multiplied by one plus the locality percentage, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Check another grade, step or locality

$174,648/yr
Base pay (before locality)$143,236
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN locality21.93%
Adjusted annual$174,648
Per month$14,554
Bi-weekly$6,694.40
Hourly$83.68

Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.

Related pay tables

Frequently asked questions

How much does GS-15 make in Cincinnati-Wilmington?

For 2026, GS-15 in Cincinnati-Wilmington ranges from $154,100 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $174,648 near the middle.

How is Cincinnati-Wilmington locality pay calculated?

The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Cincinnati-Wilmington locality percentage of 21.93%, then rounded to the nearest dollar.

What is the 2026 raise?

For 2026, the across-the-board base rate rose while locality percentages were held at their prior-year levels, so the Cincinnati-Wilmington rate remained 21.93%.

Is this before or after tax?

The GS-15 figures for Cincinnati-Wilmington are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.

Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-CIN · effective January 11, 2026 · Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN, 21.93% locality. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.