Compare your
GS pay options.
Put two grades, steps or pay tables side by side. See how published annual and hourly rates differ, plus gross pay for a regular 80-hour period.
What changes between A and B?
Difference: B minus A
- Annual rate
- +$2,354
- Hourly rate
- +$1.13
- 80-hour gross period
- +$90.40
3.33% higher in annual rate relative to scenario A.
The gross period is the published hourly rate × 80 hours. It assumes a regular full-time pay period before deductions, excludes premiums and overtime, and is not a take-home estimate. Rates are from the selected 2026 OPM tables; comparing steps does not establish eligibility for a step increase.
Published rates. Transparent arithmetic.
Annual and hourly figures are read directly from OPM’s 2026 tables, preserving published pay caps. Each difference is scenario B minus scenario A; percentage change uses A’s annual rate as the baseline.
Regular biweekly gross pay = published hourly rate × 80. We do not divide the annual rate by 26. OPM explains how its 2,087-hour divisor and rounded hourly rates produce biweekly pay.
Read OPM’s pay calculation method ↗DCB, GS-9: step 1 versus step 2
The published hourly rates are $33.84 and $34.97. Multiplying each by 80 gives $2,707.20 and $2,797.60 per regular gross period: a difference of $90.40. The annual rate difference is $2,354.00. This compares two rates; it does not determine promotion or step-increase entitlement.
Source retrieved: 2026-09-29. Supported tables: base GS and all 58 published locality options, including Rest of U.S., Alaska and Hawaii.
Understand the comparison
Is this my take-home pay?
No. Results are gross regular rates before taxes, retirement contributions, insurance and other deductions. Overtime, premiums, special salary rates and law enforcement officer tables are not included.
Why is the biweekly amount different from annual pay divided by 26?
OPM derives regular hourly rates using a 2,087-hour divisor and rounding, then multiplies the hourly rate by 80 for a regular biweekly period. This tool uses OPM’s published hourly value. See OPM’s explanation.
How do I choose a locality or determine a promotion?
The comparison does not determine eligibility or which locality applies to your duty station. Ask your agency’s human resources office to confirm your applicable pay schedule, locality and any special rate. Check OPM locality definitions. You can also search by duty-station county.
Explore all base GS grades and steps · Browse more Public Atlas tools