GS-15 Pay — San Jose-San Francisco (2026)
This page shows GS-15 pay in the San Jose-San Francisco locality pay area for 2026. The San Jose-San Francisco area adds 46.34% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $184,950 | $88.62 | $7,089.60 |
| Step 2 | $191,116 | $91.57 | $7,325.60 |
| Step 3 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 4 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 5 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 6 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| 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 Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA locality | 46.34% |
| Adjusted annual (capped at EX-IV) | $197,200 |
| Per month | $16,433 |
| Bi-weekly | $7,559.20 |
| Hourly | $94.49 |
This cell is capped: locality-adjusted pay cannot exceed Level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200 in 2026, 5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(1)).
Related pay tables
- Full San Jose-San Francisco GS scale
- GS-15 in every locality
- GS-14 in San Jose-San Francisco
- 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 Jose-San Francisco?
For 2026, GS-15 in San Jose-San Francisco ranges from $184,950 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $197,200 near the middle.
How is San Jose-San Francisco locality pay calculated?
The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the San Jose-San Francisco locality percentage of 46.34%, 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 Jose-San Francisco rate remained 46.34%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-15 figures for San Jose-San Francisco are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-SF · effective January 11, 2026 · San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA, 46.34% 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.