GS-3 Pay — Rest of U.S. (2026)
This page shows GS-3 pay in the Rest of U.S. locality pay area for 2026. The Rest of U.S. area adds 17.06% in locality pay on top of the GS-3 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,435 | $15.54 | $1,243.20 |
| Step 2 | $33,517 | $16.06 | $1,284.80 |
| Step 3 | $34,598 | $16.58 | $1,326.40 |
| Step 4 | $35,680 | $17.10 | $1,368.00 |
| Step 5 | $36,762 | $17.61 | $1,408.80 |
| Step 6 | $37,843 | $18.13 | $1,450.40 |
| Step 7 | $38,925 | $18.65 | $1,492.00 |
| Step 8 | $40,006 | $19.17 | $1,533.60 |
| Step 9 | $41,088 | $19.69 | $1,575.20 |
| Step 10 | $42,170 | $20.21 | $1,616.80 |
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) | $31,404 |
| Rest of U.S. locality | 17.06% |
| Adjusted annual | $36,762 |
| Per month | $3,064 |
| Bi-weekly | $1,408.80 |
| Hourly | $17.61 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full Rest of U.S. GS scale
- GS-3 in every locality
- GS-2 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-4 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-3 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-3 in New York-Newark
- GS-3 in San Jose-San Francisco
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-3 make in Rest of U.S.?
For 2026, GS-3 in Rest of U.S. ranges from $32,435 at the first step to $42,170 at the top step, with $36,762 near the middle.
How is Rest of U.S. locality pay calculated?
The GS-3 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Rest of U.S. locality percentage of 17.06%, 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 Rest of U.S. rate remained 17.06%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-3 figures for Rest of U.S. are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-RUS · effective January 11, 2026 · Rest of U.S., 17.06% 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.