GS-15 Pay — San Diego-Chula Vista (2026)
This page shows GS-15 pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista locality pay area for 2026. The San Diego-Chula Vista area adds 33.72% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $169,001 | $80.98 | $6,478.40 |
| Step 2 | $174,634 | $83.68 | $6,694.40 |
| Step 3 | $180,268 | $86.38 | $6,910.40 |
| Step 4 | $185,902 | $89.08 | $7,126.40 |
| Step 5 | $191,535 | $91.78 | $7,342.40 |
| Step 6 | $197,169 | $94.47 | $7,557.60 |
| Step 7 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 8 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 9 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| 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
| Base pay (before locality) | $143,236 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA locality | 33.72% |
| Adjusted annual | $191,535 |
| Per month | $15,961 |
| Bi-weekly | $7,342.40 |
| Hourly | $91.78 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full San Diego-Chula Vista GS scale
- GS-15 in every locality
- GS-14 in San Diego-Chula Vista
- GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-15 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-15 in New York-Newark
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-15 make in San Diego-Chula Vista?
For 2026, GS-15 in San Diego-Chula Vista ranges from $169,001 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $191,535 near the middle.
How is San Diego-Chula Vista locality pay calculated?
The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the San Diego-Chula Vista locality percentage of 33.72%, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista rate remained 33.72%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-15 figures for San Diego-Chula Vista are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-SD · effective January 11, 2026 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 33.72% 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.