FEDERAL PAY GUIDE

Federal Special Rate Tables

Federal special rate tables provide higher rates of basic pay for certain General Schedule positions when standard GS rates are not sufficient for recruitment or retention. Learn how OPM special rates work, who is covered, how they interact with locality pay, and how to find the correct 2026 table.

What Are Federal Special Rate Tables?

Federal special rate tables are salary schedules established for certain General Schedule positions that need higher rates of basic pay than the regular GS schedule would otherwise provide.

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management may establish special rates when an agency faces an existing or likely significant difficulty recruiting or retaining well-qualified employees.

Unlike the standard GS base table, a special rate table does not automatically apply to every federal employee at a particular grade or location.

Coverage can depend on several factors, including:

Why Do Federal Special Rates Exist?

Special rates are intended to help federal agencies address staffing problems when regular General Schedule rates are not competitive enough for particular positions.

OPM may establish a special rate when recruitment or retention problems are caused by factors such as:

This means special rates are targeted compensation tools rather than a general increase for all GS employees.

Who Can Be Covered by a Special Rate?

OPM can establish a special rate for a group or category of General Schedule positions.

Coverage may be defined by:

Two employees with the same GS grade and step can therefore have different special-rate eligibility if they work in different occupations, agencies, or locations.

Special Rates Are Not a Separate Grade System

A special rate does not create a new GS grade.

An employee may still be classified as, for example, GS-7 Step 3 or GS-12 Step 5.

The special rate table provides a different payable rate for that grade and step when the employee meets the coverage requirements.

The underlying General Schedule grade-and-step structure remains important for determining the employee's position within the pay system.

What Information Is Shown on an OPM Special Rate Table?

A typical OPM special rate table includes:

Some tables cover only a few grades, while others may cover several grades and multiple locations.

How to Read a Special Rate Table

To use a special rate table correctly, first confirm that your position is actually covered.

Then identify your grade and step and find the corresponding salary in the table.

Item to Check Why It Matters
Table Number Identifies the specific special rate schedule
Occupation Your occupational series must be covered
Agency The table may apply only to listed agencies
Location Your official worksite must fall within covered locations
Grade The table may cover only certain grades
Step The payable amount depends on your step
Effective Date Confirms that you are using the current schedule
Notes May contain important eligibility or locality-pay rules

2026 Federal Special Rate Tables

OPM publishes special rate tables for each applicable year. The 2026 system allows users to search by table number, agency, occupation, and location.

Many 2026 special rate tables incorporate the 1% January 2026 General Schedule increase, although the actual special-rate amounts depend on the table.

Because special rates are highly specific, there is no single nationwide "2026 special rate salary table" that applies to everyone.

Employees should use the exact OPM table covering their occupation, agency, location, grade, and step.

Example of a 2026 Special Rate Table

OPM Special Rate Table 983Q provides one example of how a special-rate schedule is structured.

The 2026 table covers certain Police Officer positions in occupational series 0083 at specified locations and agencies.

Its rates include:

Grade Step 1 Step 10 Supplement
GS-4 $40,123 $52,162 29%
GS-5 $44,891 $58,358 29%
GS-6 $50,040 $65,052 29%
GS-7 $55,607 $72,290 29%
GS-8 $59,673 $77,571 25%

This does not mean every Police Officer nationwide receives these rates. The table applies only to the occupations, agencies, grades, and locations listed by OPM.

What Is a Special Rate Supplement?

A special rate table may show a supplement.

The supplement represents the amount or percentage used to establish the special rate above the underlying scheduled rate under the applicable special-rate authority.

Some tables use percentage supplements while others can involve different methods or amounts.

The rate shown in the OPM table should be used rather than attempting to independently calculate a salary from the supplement alone.

Special Rate vs. GS Base Pay

For more background on the regular schedule, see the 2026 GS Pay Scale.

The GS base table provides the nationwide scheduled salary for each General Schedule grade and step.

A special rate can provide a higher rate of basic pay for a covered employee.

Feature GS Base Pay Special Rate
Coverage Nationwide GS schedule Specific covered positions
Occupation restriction No occupation-specific restriction in basic table Often occupation-specific
Agency restriction General GS schedule May be agency-specific
Location restriction Base rate itself is nationwide May apply only in certain locations
Purpose Underlying GS salary schedule Address recruitment or retention needs

Special Rate vs. Locality Pay

See GS Base Pay vs. Locality Pay for the standard GS locality-pay structure.

This is one of the most important parts of the special-rate system.

A special rate and a locality rate are not simply added together in every case.

OPM states that an employee covered by a special rate schedule is entitled to the applicable special rate unless the employee is entitled to a higher rate of basic pay under another authority, such as a higher locality rate or retained rate.

That means the applicable locality rate can sometimes be higher than the special rate.

When that happens, the higher applicable rate controls.

Can Locality Pay Be Higher Than a Special Rate?

Yes.

Some special rate tables cover several geographic locations with different locality percentages.

In one covered location, the special rate may be higher. In another, the applicable GS locality rate may exceed the special rate.

OPM therefore warns employees to check the notes beneath the special rate table rather than assuming the special-rate amount always applies.

Can a Special Rate Apply at Some Steps but Not Others?

Yes.

OPM explains that some special rate schedules can produce a special rate that exceeds locality pay at lower steps but not at higher steps.

This can happen when the special-rate supplement is based on a fixed dollar amount while locality pay is calculated as a percentage.

If the applicable locality rate is higher at a particular step, the employee may receive the locality rate instead.

This is another reason to check the exact grade and step rather than looking only at the table title.

Example: Special Rate vs. Higher Locality Rate

OPM's 2026 Special Rate Table 999E provides a useful example.

It covers certain Computer Engineer, Computer Science Specialist, and Information Technology Management positions in selected locality pay areas.

The table specifically notes that some applicable General Schedule locality rates exceed the special rates at certain grades and steps.

An employee covered by the table therefore receives the special rate only when it is the applicable higher rate, unless another higher rate of basic pay applies.

2026 Special Rate Table 999E Example

Grade Step 1 Step 10 Supplement
GS-5 $50,459 $65,597 45%
GS-7 $60,348 $78,455 40%

The table covers occupational series 0854, 1550, and 2210 in specified locality pay areas including Houston-The Woodlands, Los Angeles-Long Beach, and New York-Newark.

Employees still must verify that their agency, occupation, location, grade, and step meet the table's coverage conditions.

Special Rates for Information Technology Positions

Information technology is one area where users commonly encounter OPM special rate tables.

Depending on the specific schedule, certain positions in occupational series such as:

may be covered by a special rate table.

However, coverage is not universal across every agency, grade, and location.

An employee in series 2210 should not assume that merely being an IT employee automatically qualifies for a particular special rate.

Special Rates for Medical Positions

Special rate schedules can also apply to certain healthcare occupations.

For example, OPM's 2026 Special Rate Table 0230 covers certain Nurse positions in occupational series 0610 in Honolulu, Hawaii, for specified agencies.

The actual rates depend on the listed grade and step and are subject to the conditions stated on the table.

Other healthcare positions may be governed by different special salary authorities, so employees should confirm the exact pay authority applicable to their position.

Special Rates for Police and Law Enforcement Positions

For the separate GS law-enforcement pay rules, see the Law Enforcement GS Pay Scale.

Some law enforcement and police occupations are covered by special rate schedules.

However, special rate tables should not be confused with the separate special base-rate rules that apply to certain law enforcement officers in grades GS-3 through GS-10.

OPM explains that certain law enforcement officers receive special base rates, with locality pay applied on top of those special base rates.

A covered law enforcement employee may also be eligible for a special rate schedule if that special rate is higher than the employee's otherwise applicable locality rate.

Special Rate Tables and Foreign Areas

Special rates are not limited to domestic locality pay areas.

OPM can establish schedules covering federal positions in foreign areas.

For example, 2026 Special Rate Table 001F applies to certain Department of Defense General Schedule employees whose official worksites are in foreign areas when their otherwise applicable rate would fall below the special rate shown in the table.

This illustrates why employees should use the specific OPM schedule covering their worksite rather than assuming standard domestic locality rules apply everywhere.

How to Find Your OPM Special Rate Table

OPM provides a searchable Special Rates system.

You can search using:

A practical lookup process is:

  1. Confirm your occupational series.
  2. Confirm your agency or subelement.
  3. Confirm your official worksite.
  4. Search OPM's current Special Rates system.
  5. Open the applicable table.
  6. Verify your grade and step are listed.
  7. Read every note beneath the table.
  8. Compare the special rate with any applicable higher locality or retained rate.

Why the Table Number Matters

Each OPM special rate schedule has a unique table number, such as:

The table number makes it easier to identify the exact salary schedule being used.

If your agency tells you that your position is covered by a particular special-rate table, using that table number is usually the fastest way to locate the correct OPM schedule.

Why Occupational Series Matters

Special rates are often occupation-specific.

For example, a special rate table might apply to occupational series 2210 but not to another employee working in the same office at the same grade.

The four-digit occupational series code is therefore essential when determining eligibility.

Your position description, SF-50, job announcement, or agency human resources office can help identify your official occupational series.

Why Agency Coverage Matters

A special rate table can apply Governmentwide or only to specified agencies or subelements.

That means two employees with the same occupational series, grade, step, and city could still have different eligibility if one employee's agency is listed and the other's is not.

Always check the Agency/Subelement section of the OPM table.

Why Location Coverage Matters

Many special rate schedules apply only in specified locations.

Coverage can be defined by:

A position's official worksite is therefore an important part of determining eligibility.

Do All Employees in the Same Occupation Receive the Same Special Rate?

No.

Special-rate eligibility depends on the exact coverage of the schedule.

Employees in the same occupational series can receive different rates because of differences in:

Can an Employee Request a Special Rate?

An individual employee cannot submit a special-rate request directly to OPM.

OPM states that requests must come through an agency's headquarters.

An agency seeking a new or revised special rate must provide the required information demonstrating the recruitment or retention problem and supporting the requested rate.

How Are New Special Rates Established?

Agencies can request that OPM establish special rates when qualifying recruitment or retention problems exist.

OPM evaluates factors such as:

The statutory and regulatory authority for Title 5 special rates includes 5 U.S.C. 5305 and 5 CFR part 530, subpart C.

Do Special Rates Change Every Year?

Special rates can be adjusted, revised, replaced, or discontinued.

Many annual tables are updated when the General Schedule changes, but employees should not assume that every special rate increases by exactly the same percentage or remains unchanged in structure.

OPM publishes effective dates on each table, so the current year's schedule should always be checked.

What Happens When Locality Pay Overtakes a Special Rate?

As locality rates increase over time, a locality-adjusted GS rate can become higher than a previously advantageous special rate.

When the locality rate is the higher applicable rate of basic pay, the employee generally receives that higher rate.

OPM may also revise table coverage when locality rates make particular special rates unnecessary for certain locations.

Special Rate vs. Retained Rate

Retained pay is another pay authority that can affect the actual amount an employee receives.

OPM states that an employee covered by a special rate schedule is entitled to the special rate unless a higher rate of basic pay applies under another authority, with a retained rate being one example.

This means special-rate coverage does not necessarily establish the employee's final payable salary in every situation.

Special Rates and Within-Grade Increases

A special-rate employee may still progress through the grade-and-step structure when otherwise eligible for a within-grade increase.

The applicable salary after advancement should be determined from the pay schedule covering the employee at the new step.

Some OPM special rate tables explicitly display within-grade increase amounts, while others show only the salary rates and supplement.

The employee's agency determines the official personnel action and payable rate.

Special Rates and Promotions

For the standard GS promotion framework, see the GS Two-Step Promotion Rule.

Special rates can also affect promotion pay calculations.

If an employee is covered by a special rate before or after a promotion, the agency must apply the federal promotion pay-setting rules using the pay schedules applicable to the employee.

An employee should not calculate a promotion simply by taking the old special salary and adding an arbitrary percentage.

The gaining agency's human resources office determines the official promotion rate.

Special Rate vs. Special Salary Rate

The phrases special rate and special salary rate are often used informally to describe the same general concept.

OPM's Title 5 system commonly refers to these schedules as special rates and publishes them through its Special Rates database.

However, other federal pay systems can also have special salary authorities that are not necessarily part of this specific Title 5 OPM special-rate system.

Special Rates Are Not the Same as Recruitment or Retention Incentives

A special rate is a rate of basic pay established for a covered group of positions.

Recruitment, relocation, and retention incentives are separate compensation flexibilities governed by their own rules.

An incentive payment should therefore not be confused with a special rate appearing in an OPM salary table.

How to Verify a Special Rate on a Federal Job Announcement

If a federal vacancy advertises a salary that appears higher than the normal GS rate, check whether the announcement mentions:

Then compare the information with the current OPM Special Rates database.

The salary range shown in the current job announcement is especially useful for understanding what the hiring agency expects to pay for that specific vacancy.

Common Special Rate Table Mistakes

Using a Special Rate Based Only on Occupation

Occupation alone may not establish coverage. Agency, location, grade, and other restrictions can also apply.

Adding Locality Pay to Every Special Rate

Special rates and locality rates have specific interaction rules. They should not simply be stacked together unless the applicable pay authority provides for that calculation.

Ignoring the Notes Beneath the Table

OPM notes can identify locations or steps where a higher locality rate applies instead of the listed special rate.

Using an Old Special Rate Table

Always check the effective date and select the current year.

Assuming Every Employee in a Series Is Covered

A particular occupational series can be covered in one location or agency but not another.

Confusing Special Rates With GS Locality Pay

Both can increase compensation above the GS base schedule, but they are separate pay authorities with different eligibility rules.

Related Federal Pay Resources

2026 GS Pay ScaleCurrent nationwide GS base salary rates GS Base Pay vs. Locality PayUnderstand regular GS base and geographic pay 2026 GS Locality PayBrowse current GS locality pay areas GS Step IncreasesUnderstand the standard GS Step 1–10 structure Within-Grade Increase GuideGS WGI waiting periods and eligibility GS Two-Step Promotion RulePromotion pay-setting rules for covered GS employees Law Enforcement GS Pay ScaleSeparate GS law-enforcement pay provisions GS Pay Cap ExplainedUnderstand limits affecting GS payable rates GS Pay CalculatorExplore regular GS pay calculations

Browse Current GS Pay by Grade

These pages show the regular 2026 GS structure. A special rate applies only when the employee meets the exact coverage requirements of the applicable OPM special rate table.

Browse Current GS Pay by Step

Special-rate employees retain an underlying grade and step. Use these pages to understand the standard GS step structure, not as substitutes for an applicable special rate table.

Federal Special Rate Tables Frequently Asked Questions

What is a federal special rate?

A federal special rate is a higher rate of basic pay established by OPM for certain covered General Schedule positions to address significant recruitment or retention problems.

Who qualifies for a special rate?

Eligibility depends on the coverage of the specific OPM table, including factors such as occupational series, agency, location, grade, and step.

Is a special rate the same as locality pay?

No. Special rates and locality pay are separate pay mechanisms. In some situations the special rate is higher; in others the applicable locality rate may be higher.

Do I receive both special rate and locality pay?

You should not automatically add the two together. OPM's rules determine which applicable rate of basic pay controls, and in many cases an employee receives the higher applicable special or locality rate.

Where can I find 2026 special rate tables?

OPM maintains a searchable Special Rates database where tables can be found by agency, location, occupation, or table number.

What is a special rate table number?

It is the identifier OPM assigns to a particular special-rate schedule. Examples include 983Q, 999E, and 0230.

Do special rates apply to every GS employee?

No. Special rates apply only to employees who meet the exact coverage requirements of the applicable schedule.

Can locality pay be higher than a special rate?

Yes. OPM specifically notes that locality rates can exceed special rates at certain locations, grades, or steps.

Can an individual employee ask OPM for a special rate?

No. Special-rate requests must be submitted to OPM through agency headquarters.

Does a special rate change my GS grade or step?

No. A special rate changes the payable rate for a covered position; it does not by itself change the employee's underlying GS grade or step.

Official OPM Special Rate Information

OPM maintains the official Title 5 Special Rates database for current and historical special rate schedules.

Because special-rate coverage can depend on occupation, agency, location, grade, step, and table-specific notes, employees should verify all of those factors before relying on a salary amount.

For an official individual pay determination, employees should use their agency human resources office and current personnel records together with the applicable OPM special rate table.