How the GS System Works
The General Schedule (GS) is the pay system for most white-collar federal employees. It uses a grid of 15 grades (GS-1 through GS-15) and 10 steps within each grade. Your grade reflects the complexity and responsibility of your position; your step reflects longevity and performance within that grade.
2025 GS Base Pay Table (Selected Grades)
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $33,693 | $37,840 | $43,414 |
| GS-7 | $41,637 | $46,779 | $53,685 |
| GS-9 | $50,941 | $57,232 | $65,680 |
| GS-11 | $61,727 | $69,332 | $79,576 |
| GS-12 | $73,939 | $83,047 | $95,318 |
| GS-13 | $87,926 | $98,771 | $113,365 |
| GS-14 | $103,906 | $116,713 | $133,959 |
| GS-15 | $122,198 | $137,260 | $157,534 |
Locality Pay Changes Everything
The base table above does not include locality pay — an additional percentage added based on your duty station. Locality adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of US) to over 34% (San Francisco). This means a GS-13 Step 5 in San Francisco earns approximately $132,300, while the same grade/step in a rural area earns about $115,600.
How to Progress Through the System
- Steps 1–3: advance one step every year with acceptable performance
- Steps 4–6: advance one step every two years
- Steps 7–10: advance one step every three years
- Grade increases: require applying for and being selected for higher-graded positions
It takes approximately 18 years to go from Step 1 to Step 10 within a single grade. Most career federal employees advance through multiple grades during their tenure.
Federal Benefits Add Significant Value
Federal compensation is not just salary. The benefits package adds approximately 30–40% to total compensation value:
- FERS pension — 1% of high-3 average salary for each year of service (1.1% if retiring at 62+ with 20+ years)
- TSP (Thrift Savings Plan) — agency matches up to 5% of salary with extremely low expense ratios
- FEHB health insurance — government pays 72–75% of premiums
- 13–26 days of annual leave — based on years of service, plus 13 days of sick leave
- Federal holidays — 11 paid holidays per year
GS vs. Private Sector
Federal salaries are typically 10–20% below private sector for professional roles, but benefits close or exceed the gap. The most competitive federal positions (cybersecurity, IT, healthcare) sometimes offer special pay authorities that exceed standard GS rates. For workers who value stability, pension, and work-life balance, federal employment remains attractive despite the headline salary discount.