GRADE & STEP GUIDE
GS Step 10 Pay Guide
Step 10 appears within each GS grade. The dollar value changes with the grade and, for locality-adjusted pay, the duty station.
| Grade | 2026 Step 10 Base Pay | Grade Guide |
|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $28,248 | View GS-1 |
| GS-2 | $31,953 | View GS-2 |
| GS-3 | $36,024 | View GS-3 |
| GS-4 | $40,436 | View GS-4 |
| GS-5 | $45,239 | View GS-5 |
| GS-6 | $50,428 | View GS-6 |
| GS-7 | $56,039 | View GS-7 |
| GS-8 | $62,057 | View GS-8 |
| GS-9 | $68,549 | View GS-9 |
| GS-10 | $75,479 | View GS-10 |
| GS-11 | $82,938 | View GS-11 |
| GS-12 | $99,404 | View GS-12 |
| GS-13 | $118,204 | View GS-13 |
| GS-14 | $139,684 | View GS-14 |
| GS-15 | $164,301 | View GS-15 |
What Step 10 means
Step 10 is the tenth pay point within each General Schedule grade. It does not represent a separate grade or job level. In the 2026 base table, Step 10 ranges from $28,248 at GS-1 to $164,301 at GS-15 before locality adjustments.
The dollar value of Step 10 changes with the grade. That is why a search for “Step 10 salary” is incomplete unless the GS grade is also known. The table above lets you compare the same step across GS-1 through GS-15.
Step 10 is the final regular step within a GS grade, so there is no Step 11. Further pay growth may come from annual pay adjustments, promotion, locality changes, special-rate changes, or other personnel actions rather than another within-grade step.
A step value in the national base table is not necessarily the employee’s payable annual salary. Eligible employees in covered U.S. duty stations generally use an applicable locality table, and some occupations can be covered by higher special rates.
When comparing Step 10 between locations, keep the grade constant. For example, compare GS-12 Step 10 in two locality areas rather than comparing different grades and locations at the same time. That isolates the effect of locality pay.
Promotions and within-grade increases are different actions. A promotion changes grade, while a within-grade increase changes step within the same grade. Federal pay-setting rules determine the resulting rate; a simple percentage shortcut can give the wrong answer.
Monthly and biweekly equivalents are useful for personal planning, but federal payroll is based on official salary and pay-period rules. Deductions and benefits can make actual net pay substantially different from a simple annual-salary conversion.
Use the linked grade pages to see every step within a specific GS grade, then use the locality directory if you need the location-adjusted table for the employee’s official duty station.