Check out the finalized 2025 general schedule pay scale table, detailing the federal employee pay raise and locality adjustments. How will federal pay raise impact your financial plan?
The 2025 GS Pay Scale and 2% Federal Employee Pay Raise
It’s Official: 2.0 Percent 2025 Pay Raise for Federal Workforce
Two days before the Christmas holiday, President Biden not only gave the federal workforce an extra day off for Christmas eve, but also made the 2025 federal pay raise official. While there was a slight chance that the White House would approve a 4.5% federal raise, the 2.0% raise that has been expected since March, when Biden recommended that figure in its suggested 2025 budget.
On December 20, a stopgap budget bill passed to prevent a government shutdown, which also finalized that the 2025 military pay raise will be 4.5%.
Don’t Forget About Locality Pay
The across-the-board raise will actually be 1.7 percent with 2.0% being the average with locality pay factored in. This means that the estimated GS Pay Tables that we published a few months ago will be the official GS base pay schedule for federal employees who are paid based on the general schedule pay scale. In terms of designated pay localities across the United States and its territories, the federal wage system is expected to adopt the same localities as the general schedule.
Official Pay Tables: The 2025 GS Pay Scale Table
2025 Federal Pay Raise Chart with Locality
Here are the pay raises by locality, sorted from highest salary increase to lowest. The raise in 2025 will be an average of 2.06% after the base pay increase of 1.7%.
| Locality Pay Area | Total 2025 Pay Adjustment |
|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA | 2.35% |
| Seattle-Tacoma, WA | 2.29% |
| New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA | 2.23% |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA | 2.22% |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 2.21% |
| Denver-Aurora, CO | 2.20% |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT | 2.17% |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA | 2.17% |
| Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV | 2.17% |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY | 2.16% |
| Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA | 2.14% |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA | 2.13% |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d’Alene, WA-ID | 2.13% |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT | 2.11% |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI | 2.08% |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA | 2.08% |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 2.06% |
| Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA | 2.06% |
| Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN | 2.06% |
| Phoenix-Mesa, AZ | 2.06% |
| Reno-Fernley, NV | 2.06% |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY | 2.05% |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC | 2.05% |
| Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI | 2.05% |
| Hawaii | 2.05% |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 2.05% |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL | 2.04% |
| Alaska | 2.01% |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX | 2.01% |
| Richmond, VA | 2.01% |
| Tucson-Nogales, AZ | 2.01% |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH | 1.99% |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA | 1.99% |
| Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ | 1.99% |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL | 1.99% |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC | 1.99% |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs, GA-AL | 1.98% |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL | 1.98% |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK | 1.98% |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA | 1.98% |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC | 1.98% |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS | 1.97% |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA | 1.95% |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX | 1.95% |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM | 1.94% |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH | 1.94% |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI | 1.94% |
| Davenport-Moline, IA-IL | 1.93% |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN | 1.92% |
| Laredo, TX | 1.92% |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI | 1.92% |
| Houston-TheWoodlands, TX | 1.91% |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV | 1.91% |
| Rest of US | 1.91% |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN | 1.90% |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX | 1.90% |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1.90% |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA | 1.88% |
| Total/Averages | 2.06% |
What is the 2025 GS Pay Scale and How Does it Affect Federal Employees?
How is the General Schedule (GS) Pay Scale Structured?
The General Schedule (GS) pay scale is a structured pay system used to determine the salaries of federal employees. It consists of 15 grades, each with 10 steps, which represent incremental increases in pay. The GS pay scale is designed to provide a clear framework for salary progression based on experience, performance, and tenure. The GS base pay is uniform across the United States, but adjustments are made for locality pay to account for the cost of living in different areas. This ensures that federal employees are compensated fairly, regardless of where they work.
How Does the GS Pay Scale Impact Federal Employee Salaries?
The GS pay scale directly impacts the salaries of federal employees by establishing a standardized pay table that dictates their earnings. The scale provides a transparent and predictable method for calculating pay increases, which are based on factors such as promotions, step increases, and locality pay adjustments.
The Federal Salary Council and 2025 Pay Schedule
The Federal Salary Council plays a pivotal role in advising the President and OPM on pay adjustments for federal employees. The council reviews data on pay disparities between federal and non-federal workers, considering factors such as locality pay and cost of living. Their recommendations help shape the annual pay raise and adjustments to the GS pay scale, ensuring that federal salaries remain competitive and aligned with economic conditions.
What is Locality Pay and How Does it Affect Federal Employees?
How is Locality Pay Determined?
Locality pay is an additional compensation provided to federal employees based on the geographic area in which they work. It is determined by comparing federal salaries to those in the private sector within specific locality pay areas. The goal is to bridge the gap between federal and non-federal pay, ensuring that federal employees are fairly compensated for the cost of living in their region. Locality pay adjustments are reviewed annually and can vary significantly between different areas.
Which Locality Pay Areas Will See the Most Change from 2024?
In January 2025, certain locality pay areas are expected to see notable changes due to shifts in economic conditions and cost of living. Areas with rapidly growing economies or high inflation rates may experience larger locality pay adjustments to keep federal salaries competitive. The OPM, in collaboration with the Federal Salary Council, will analyze data to identify these areas and implement necessary changes. Federal employees in these regions can anticipate adjustments that reflect the evolving economic landscape. No new localities were added for general schedule employees in the federal civilian workforce.
How Does Locality Pay Rate Differ from Base Rate of Pay?
Locality pay differs from base pay in that it is an additional percentage added to the GS base pay to account for regional cost-of-living differences. While base pay is consistent across all federal employees within the same grade and step, locality pay varies depending on the employee’s work location. If you are a Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), you receive a special rate as well.
How Can Feds Stay Informed About Pay Scale Changes
Employees of federal agencies may stay informed about pay changes by regularly visiting the OPM (Office of Personnel Management) website, where updates on pay adjustments, locality pay areas, and other relevant information are published. Additionally, employees can subscribe to our newsletter to receive timely notifications about pay changes. Engaging with union representatives and attending informational sessions can also provide valuable insights into the implications of pay adjustments and help employees plan their financial futures effectively.
Reach Out to Us!
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