FEDERAL PAY GUIDE

GG Pay Scale Guide

The GG pay plan is used for certain federal positions with grades similar to the General Schedule, often in the excepted service. Learn how GG grades, steps, salary rates, locality adjustments, and agency-specific rules compare with the traditional GS system.

What Is the GG Pay Scale?

The GG pay scale is a federal pay-plan structure used for certain positions that have grades similar to the General Schedule (GS). Employees may encounter GG positions in agencies or occupations operating under special statutory, excepted-service, intelligence, or other personnel authorities.

GG positions can look very similar to GS positions because many use familiar grade and step structures. However, GG and GS are not automatically the same pay system.

The exact salary and pay-setting rules for a GG employee depend on the agency, position, appointment authority, and personnel system under which the employee is covered.

What Does GG Mean in Federal Employment?

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has described the GG pay-plan code as "Grades similar to General Schedule."

This description is important. It means GG positions may use grades or salary structures that resemble the General Schedule without necessarily being positions established under the statutory GS classification and pay system.

Therefore, seeing a position listed as GG-12 does not by itself establish that every GS-12 rule automatically applies to that position.

Is GG the Same as GS?

For a dedicated comparison, see GS vs. GG Pay Scale.

No. GG and GS should not be treated as interchangeable pay-plan codes.

The traditional General Schedule is the Governmentwide classification and pay system administered under federal law and OPM regulations. It contains 15 grades, GS-1 through GS-15, and normally 10 steps within each grade. See GS Step Increases for the standard GS progression structure.

GG positions may use grades and rates that parallel the General Schedule, but they can operate under different appointment, classification, pay-setting, promotion, or personnel authorities.

Feature GS GG
Meaning General Schedule Grades similar to General Schedule
Single Governmentwide statutory GS system? Yes No
May use GS-like grades? Yes Yes
May use GS-like salary rates? Yes Yes, depending on the governing system
Rules identical in every case? Governmentwide GS rules generally apply, subject to applicable exceptions No; governing authority and agency rules matter
Commonly associated with excepted-service positions? GS positions can exist in competitive or excepted service Yes, GG is often encountered in excepted-service systems

How Does the GG Grade Structure Work?

Many GG positions use grade numbers similar to those found in the General Schedule. A job announcement might therefore show a position as:

The grade generally represents the level assigned to the position under the applicable personnel system.

However, employees should not assume that a GG grade is governed by every classification or qualification rule that applies to a GS grade with the same number.

Does the GG Pay Scale Have Steps?

Many GG positions use a step structure similar to the General Schedule.

OPM personnel-data guidance recognizes GG positions at grades 1 through 15 with step or rate entries commonly running from 01 through 10 in covered situations.

However, the specific personnel authority matters. Some excepted-service systems may have special provisions, alternative salary structures, pay bands, or other rules.

For this reason, an employee should verify the step structure shown on the position's official personnel documents rather than assuming that every GG appointment uses the standard GS progression rules.

Do GG Employees Receive the Same Salary as GS Employees?

Sometimes GG salary rates parallel the General Schedule, but this should not be assumed for every GG position.

An agency may use a GG structure in which the salary range corresponds closely to GS grades and steps. In such a case, a GG-12 Step 1 rate may match or closely follow the corresponding GS-12 Step 1 rate.

Other GG positions can be governed by separate statutory or administratively determined pay authorities.

The safest way to determine a GG salary is to use the pay table or salary information specifically identified by the employing agency for that position.

Example of a GG System That Parallels GS Rates

OPM has documented federal personnel systems in which GG rates parallel General Schedule rates.

For example, an OPM compensation claim involving the U.S. Census Bureau explained that the agency's GG pay plan was an employee-equivalent of the GS pay plan and paralleled GS rates. At the same time, OPM treated that GG plan as a non-GS pay system for the specific pay-setting issue because its legal authority did not come from the statutory GS provisions.

This demonstrates an important distinction:

A GG salary can parallel a GS salary without the position legally becoming a GS position.

How to Find a GG Salary

If you are considering a GG position or checking your current salary, start with the information provided in the official job announcement or personnel record.

Identify:

  1. Your pay plan — confirm that it is GG.
  2. Your grade.
  3. Your step or rate, if applicable.
  4. Your official worksite.
  5. The agency and personnel system covering the position.
  6. Whether the position uses GS-equivalent salary tables.
  7. Whether locality pay, a special rate, or another adjustment applies.

If the agency specifically states that its GG rates correspond to the General Schedule, the applicable GS table can be useful for understanding the salary range. The agency's governing pay rules should still be used to confirm the actual payable salary.

GG Pay and the 2026 General Schedule

The 2026 General Schedule contains 15 grades and 10 steps and incorporates the applicable 2026 GS base-pay adjustment.

For a GG position that is explicitly tied to or based on current GS rates, the 2026 GS salary tables may therefore provide the underlying salary structure.

However, this does not mean that every employee with a GG pay-plan code should automatically use the 2026 GS table as their official salary table.

The employing agency should identify which salary schedule applies to the position.

GG Base Pay and Locality Pay

Locality pay for GG employees requires more care than a simple statement that all GG employees receive GS locality pay.

Federal law allows locality payments to be extended to certain categories of non-GS employees, and some GG personnel systems use salary structures that incorporate or parallel GS locality rates.

Whether a particular GG employee receives locality pay depends on the legal authority and pay rules covering that position.

Therefore, a GG employee should verify whether the salary shown by the agency is:

Why Location Can Matter for GG Pay

If a GG position is covered by locality-based pay, the employee's official worksite can affect the payable salary.

For example, an employee whose position uses GS-equivalent locality rates in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington locality area may have a different payable salary from an otherwise comparable employee whose position is covered by a different locality area.

But employees should confirm that their GG personnel system actually provides locality payments before using an OPM GS locality table.

GG Positions and the Excepted Service

GG is frequently encountered in connection with excepted-service federal employment.

The excepted service consists of federal positions that are excepted from the competitive service under applicable legal authority.

This distinction concerns the appointment and personnel system, not simply the amount of salary an employee receives.

A GG employee can therefore receive a salary that resembles a GS salary while being appointed under different personnel authorities.

Does GG Always Mean Excepted Service?

It is better not to determine an employee's service status solely from the letters "GG."

GG is a pay-plan code. The employee's appointment authority and official personnel documentation determine the exact nature of the position and service status.

Applicants should review the Service, Appointment type, Pay scale & grade, and eligibility sections of the federal job announcement rather than relying only on the pay-plan abbreviation.

What Types of Agencies Use GG?

GG has been used by federal organizations operating under special personnel authorities, including certain defense, intelligence, and other excepted-service organizations.

The important point for salary research is that there is no universal rule saying every GG position across every federal agency operates identically.

Two vacancies can both display a GG grade while being governed by different appointment or pay authorities.

GG Pay in Intelligence and Defense Positions

GG terminology is often encountered when researching civilian intelligence and national-security employment.

Some defense intelligence personnel systems have historically used GG grades or GS-like structures. These systems may also undergo changes such as conversions between graded and pay-banded structures.

Employees in these organizations should therefore use current agency documentation rather than relying on an old GG salary table found online.

GG vs. GS Classification

The GS system uses Governmentwide classification standards administered by OPM. Agencies classify GS positions based on factors such as the difficulty and responsibility of the work and the qualifications required.

A GG position may resemble a GS position in title, occupational series, grade, or salary while being classified or established under a different authority.

Therefore, the fact that two jobs have similar duties or the same numerical grade does not necessarily mean that all classification rules are identical.

GG vs. GS Qualification Requirements

OPM publishes Governmentwide qualification standards used for many General Schedule positions.

Excepted-service agencies can use different qualification or hiring authorities where permitted by law.

Some agencies may use GS qualification standards or closely related criteria for GG positions, while others may establish requirements under their own authority.

The vacancy announcement is therefore the best source for determining the education, specialized experience, licensing, or other qualification requirements for a particular GG job.

Are GG Grades Equivalent to GS Grades?

A GG grade can be similar to a corresponding GS grade, and some GG systems intentionally parallel GS salary ranges.

But "similar" should not automatically be interpreted as legally identical.

For example, GG-12 and GS-12 may use the same salary range in a particular agency while still belonging to different personnel systems.

When comparing jobs, consider the complete compensation and personnel structure rather than comparing only the numerical grade.

GG Step Increases

If a GG position uses the standard GS step structure and incorporates GS within-grade increase rules, progression may resemble movement through GS Steps 1 through 10.

However, employees should not assume that the standard GS within-grade increase rules automatically apply to every GG position.

The governing agency may have specific rules concerning:

Your agency's human resources office and governing personnel policy are the appropriate sources for determining an actual GG step-increase date.

GG Promotions

Promotion rules can also depend on the personnel authority covering the GG position.

Employees should not automatically apply the standard GS two-step promotion rule to every GG promotion unless the applicable agency rules provide for that method.

Some GG systems may adopt or parallel GS promotion rules, while others may use different pay-setting authorities.

If you are moving between GG grades, or between GG and GS positions, the gaining agency should determine the new rate under the applicable pay-setting rules.

Moving From GS to GG

A federal employee moving from a GS position to a GG position should not assume that the existing grade and step will automatically transfer unchanged.

The gaining agency determines the employee's pay under the authority governing the GG position.

Depending on that authority, previous federal salary, grade, step, locality rate, retained pay, or other factors may be relevant to the pay-setting decision.

The official offer and personnel action should identify the resulting pay plan, grade, step or rate, and salary.

Moving From GG to GS

The reverse situation also requires formal pay setting.

When an employee moves from a non-GS pay system into a GS position, the agency applies the rules governing the GS appointment or personnel action.

Previous federal pay may be relevant under certain pay-setting authorities, but an employee should not simply replace "GG" with "GS" and assume the same step automatically applies.

GG vs. WG Pay Scale

GG should also not be confused with WG.

Feature GG WG
General description Grades similar to General Schedule Wage Grade under the Federal Wage System
Typical work Often white-collar, professional, technical, intelligence or administrative work depending on agency Trade, craft and laboring work
Common pay structure May parallel GS grades and steps Local hourly wage schedules
Geographic pay Depends on governing GG system Federal Wage System local wage areas
Same as GS? No, although some GG systems closely parallel GS No

GG vs. GS Pay Scale at a Glance

Question GS GG
Uses grades? Yes Generally yes
Can use Steps 1-10? Yes Many GG positions do
GS-1 through GS-15 structure? Yes GG grades can parallel this structure
OPM GS rules automatically apply? Generally, subject to applicable law and exceptions Not necessarily
Can salary match GS? GS table establishes the rate Yes, in systems that parallel GS rates
Agency-specific authority important? Yes Especially important

How to Read a Federal Job Announcement With a GG Grade

If a USAJOBS or agency vacancy lists a position as GG, do not look only at the grade.

Check the announcement for:

The salary range in the current vacancy announcement is generally more useful for that specific position than assuming a generic GG salary from the grade number alone.

Common GG Pay Scale Mistakes

Assuming GG Means General Schedule

GG means grades similar to the General Schedule. It should not automatically be interpreted as a GS appointment.

Assuming GG-12 Always Pays Exactly the Same as GS-12

Some GG systems parallel GS rates, but the agency and governing authority must be checked.

Automatically Applying GS Locality Pay

Some GG employees may receive locality-based adjustments, but eligibility depends on the applicable pay authority.

Automatically Applying GS Step-Increase Rules

A GG position may use GS-like steps without necessarily being governed by every statutory GS within-grade increase provision.

Using an Old Agency Pay Table

Excepted-service and special personnel systems can change. Always check the effective year and current agency policy.

How to Verify Your GG Pay

For an existing federal employee, useful documents include the employee's current personnel action, position description, agency pay guidance, and applicable salary schedule.

For an applicant, start with the current vacancy announcement and the agency's employment information.

If the GG position is explicitly tied to GS rates, you can then compare the stated grade and step with the applicable current General Schedule table.

For an official determination, contact the employing agency's human resources office.

Related Federal Pay Resources

GS vs. GG Pay ScaleCompare GS and GG pay structures and authorities 2026 GS Pay ScaleCurrent GS-1 through GS-15 base salary table GS Base Pay vs. Locality PayUnderstand geographic pay adjustments 2026 GS Locality PayBrowse current locality pay areas when GS-equivalent locality rates apply GS Step IncreasesStandard GS step progression for comparison Within-Grade Increase GuideGS WGI rules that may or may not apply to a GG system GS Two-Step Promotion RuleStandard GS promotion pay-setting method for comparison WG Pay Scale GuideCompare GG with the separate Federal Wage System GS vs. WG Pay ScaleAnother federal pay-system comparison Special Rate TablesUnderstand special-rate pay structures

Browse Current GS Pay by Grade

Use these only when the employing agency states that the GG position uses or parallels GS-equivalent rates.

Browse Current GS Pay by Step

These pages explain the current GS step structure for comparison. They do not automatically establish GG step rules.

GG Pay Scale Frequently Asked Questions

What does GG stand for in federal pay?

OPM has defined GG as "Grades similar to General Schedule." It is a federal pay-plan code used for certain positions that may resemble the GS grade structure.

Is GG better than GS?

Neither pay plan is automatically better. Salary, benefits, career progression, appointment rights, promotion opportunities, job duties and agency-specific rules should all be considered.

Does GG use the same pay table as GS?

Some GG systems parallel or use GS-equivalent rates, but this is not universal. Check the agency's governing pay authority and the salary schedule identified for the position.

How many steps does GG have?

Many GG positions use Steps 1 through 10 in a structure similar to GS. However, the exact structure should be verified under the personnel system covering the position.

Does GG receive locality pay?

Some GG positions can receive locality-based pay adjustments or use rates corresponding to GS locality schedules. Eligibility depends on the authority governing the particular position.

Are GG employees federal employees?

Yes, GG is used for federal civilian positions. The exact appointment and personnel authority can differ from the traditional competitive-service GS system.

Is GG always excepted service?

GG is commonly encountered in excepted-service employment, but applicants should verify the service and appointment authority stated in the specific vacancy or personnel record rather than relying solely on the pay-plan code.

Is GG-12 equivalent to GS-12?

A GG-12 position may have a salary range similar or identical to GS-12 under a particular personnel system, but the positions are not automatically identical for every classification, appointment, promotion, or pay-setting purpose.

Where can I find the current GG pay table?

There is not one universal GG table that can safely be applied to every GG employee. Check the employing agency's current salary information. If that agency explicitly uses GS-equivalent rates, consult the applicable current OPM GS table as directed by the agency.

Official Pay Information

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management publishes Governmentwide General Schedule salary tables and federal pay-plan information. However, because GG positions can operate under agency-specific or statutory personnel authorities, employees should also consult the current guidance issued by their employing agency.

For an actual GG position, the agency's official job announcement, personnel records, salary schedule and human resources office should take precedence over a generic online GG salary estimate.