GS-15 Pay — Washington-Baltimore (2026)
This page shows GS-15 pay in the Washington-Baltimore locality pay area for 2026. The Washington-Baltimore area adds 33.94% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $169,279 | $81.11 | $6,488.80 |
| Step 2 | $174,922 | $83.82 | $6,705.60 |
| Step 3 | $180,565 | $86.52 | $6,921.60 |
| Step 4 | $186,207 | $89.22 | $7,137.60 |
| Step 5 | $191,850 | $91.93 | $7,354.40 |
| 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 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality | 33.94% |
| Adjusted annual | $191,850 |
| Per month | $15,988 |
| Bi-weekly | $7,354.40 |
| Hourly | $91.93 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full Washington-Baltimore GS scale
- GS-15 in every locality
- GS-14 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-15 in New York-Newark
- GS-15 in San Jose-San Francisco
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-15 make in Washington-Baltimore?
For 2026, GS-15 in Washington-Baltimore ranges from $169,279 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $191,850 near the middle.
How is Washington-Baltimore locality pay calculated?
The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Washington-Baltimore locality percentage of 33.94%, 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 Washington-Baltimore rate remained 33.94%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-15 figures for Washington-Baltimore are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-DCB · effective January 11, 2026 · Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, 33.94% 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.