GS Calculator
The U.S. General Schedule (GS) pay system is the backbone of federal government salaries for most white-collar employees. With 15 GS grades and 10 steps in each grade, calculating your exact salary, including locality pay adjustments, can be complex.
Our GS Calculator simplifies this by letting you input your GS grade, step, and locality pay percentage to instantly calculate your base salary, locality adjustment, total annual pay, monthly income, and biweekly paycheck. This tool helps federal employees, applicants, and HR professionals understand compensation clearly and make informed financial decisions.
How to Use the GS Calculator
- Select Your GS Level:
Choose your grade from GS-1 through GS-15, representing your position's pay scale. - Select Your GS Step:
Pick the step within the grade (Step 1 through Step 10). Steps indicate incremental salary increases within a grade based on tenure or performance. - Enter Locality Pay Adjustment (%):
Input the percentage of locality pay adjustment applicable to your work location (default is 16.5%). Locality pay accounts for the cost of living differences in various regions. - Calculate:
Click the "Calculate" button. You will see:- Base Annual Salary (without locality pay)
- Locality Adjustment Amount (extra pay based on location)
- Total Annual Salary (base + locality)
- Monthly Salary (total annual divided by 12)
- Bi-Weekly Salary (total annual divided by 26 pay periods)
- Reset:
Use the reset button to clear selections and start over.
Example Calculation
Suppose you are a federal employee at GS-7, Step 4, working in an area with a 16.5% locality pay adjustment.
- Base Salary (GS-7, Step 4): $46,163
- Locality Adjustment: $46,163 × 16.5% = $7,617
- Total Annual Salary: $46,163 + $7,617 = $53,780
- Monthly Salary: $53,780 ÷ 12 ≈ $4,481.67
- Bi-Weekly Salary: $53,780 ÷ 26 ≈ $2,068.46
This gives a clear breakdown of your earnings adjusted for location and step.
Why Use the GS Calculator?
- Simplifies complex GS pay tables and locality calculations.
- Provides instant, accurate salary estimates.
- Helps federal employees understand their compensation structure.
- Assists job seekers in evaluating federal pay offers.
- Supports budgeting and financial planning with monthly and biweekly breakdowns.
FAQs
1. What is the GS pay scale?
The General Schedule (GS) is the federal government’s pay system for most white-collar workers, with 15 grades and 10 steps per grade.
2. What are GS steps?
Steps are incremental pay raises within a grade, usually awarded based on performance and length of service.
3. What is locality pay?
Locality pay adjusts federal salaries to reflect the cost of living in different geographic areas.
4. How is locality pay calculated?
It is a percentage of your base salary added on top to compensate for regional cost differences.
5. Can I change the locality pay percentage?
Yes, enter the specific locality adjustment percentage for your area.
6. What if I don’t know my locality pay?
Check the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website or your HR department for accurate locality pay percentages.
7. Does the calculator include bonuses or other benefits?
No, it only calculates base and locality-adjusted salaries.
8. How often do GS salaries update?
GS pay rates are typically updated annually by OPM.
9. Can I use this calculator for multiple jobs?
Yes, just input different GS levels and steps for each position.
10. What are biweekly pay periods?
Federal employees are usually paid every two weeks, totaling 26 paychecks a year.
11. How accurate is this calculator?
It uses the official GS base salaries and calculates locality adjustments based on your input.
12. Does this calculator work for federal employees outside the U.S.?
Yes, but you must enter the correct locality percentage applicable to your overseas location.
13. Can I print or save my results?
You can take screenshots or copy the numbers manually.
14. Why is monthly salary calculated as total annual divided by 12?
This reflects the standard 12-month payroll cycle.
15. What if my step or grade is not listed?
The GS system officially has only 15 grades and 10 steps, so this calculator covers all official options.
Conclusion
The GS Calculator is an essential tool for federal employees and applicants to quickly and accurately understand their pay structure. By including locality pay and step increments, it offers a detailed picture of your total compensation and helps with effective financial planning.
Use the GS Calculator today to simplify your salary calculations and take control of your federal career earnings!