Civilian Pay — General Schedule and Federal Wage System
General Schedule (GS)
GS = Annual Salary
General Schedule employee pay is expressed as an annual salary.
10 Steps Per Grade
GS = 10 Steps
The General Schedule grades have 10 steps in each grade.
Step Increase Intervals
GS Step Intervals
Within grade or step, increases:
- Start at one-year intervals
- Slow to two- and three-year intervals in the higher steps
Locality Pay
Locality Pay Inclusion
All General Schedule pay rates in the United States include locality pay.
Overseas Pay
Overseas GS Lower
Pay rates overseas do NOT include locality pay and are approximately 10 percent lower than United States rates.
January Increases
January GS Increases
General Schedule pay scales normally increase in January through the legislative process.
Federal Wage System (FWS)
FWS Components
The Federal Wage system consists of:
- Wage grade
- Wage leader
- Wage supervisor
5 Steps Per Grade
FWS = 5 Steps
Federal Wage system grades have five steps.
Step Increase Intervals
FWS Step Intervals
In FWS:
- Grade increases start at six-month intervals
- Slow to eighteen-month and two-year intervals
Hourly Wage
FWS = Hourly Wage
The Federal Wage system pay is expressed as hourly wage rates.
Local Variation
FWS Local Variation
Federal Wage system rates vary more between local areas than General Schedule.
Annual Increases
FWS Area-Based Increases
Federal Wage system rates may also be increased annually, but on an area-by-area basis throughout the year.
Reference
Pay Reference
For additional information on civilian pay:
- AFI 36-128, *Pay Setting and Allowances*