2024 GS Pay Scales: Bigger Paychecks for Federal Workers
- What is the GS Pay Scale?
- How Does It Work?
- What Are the Pay Rates?
- What Else is New?
- Who Gets More?
- Why Does This Matter?
Great news for federal employees in the United States! The 2024 General Schedule (GS) Pay Scales have been revealed, and they come with a nice 5.2% increase in pay. This means more money in the pockets of government workers. Here's what you need to know:
What is the GS Pay Scale?
The GS Pay Scale is like a rulebook that decides how much money nearly 1.6 million government employees should get paid. These are the folks who work desk jobs in the federal government. It's the most commonly used pay scale in the government.
How Does It Work?
The GS Pay Scale has fifteen levels. The first one, GS-1, is for newbies, and GS-15 is for the top dogs. In each level, there are ten steps, and each step means more money.
What Are the Pay Rates?
Here's a peek at how much money people in different levels will make in 2024:
| Grade | Salary Range |
|---|---|
| GS-1 | Starts at $21,986 and goes up to $27,502 |
| GS-2 | Ranges from $24,722 to $31,114 |
| GS-3 | Starts at $26,975 and goes up to $35,066 |
| GS-4 | Begins at $30,280 and ends at $39,361 |
| GS-5 | Starts at $33,878 and maxes out at $44,039 |
| GS-6 | Begins at $37,765 and tops out at $49,096 |
| GS-7 | Starts at $41,966 and reaches up to $54,557 |
| GS-8 | Ranges from $46,475 to $60,416 |
| GS-9 | Starts from $51,332 to $66,731 |
| GS-10 | Begins at $56,528 and caps at $73,484 |
| GS-11 | Starts at $62,107 and climbs to $80,737 |
| GS-12 | Begins at $74,441 and goes up to $96,770 |
| GS-13 | Starts at $88,520 and reaches up to $115,079 |
| GS-14 | Ranges from $104,604 to $135,987 |
| GS-15 | Starts at $123,041 and maxes out at $159,950 |
These numbers show how much people get paid at different levels.
What Else is New?
Apart from the base pay, there's something called "locality pay." This means people in expensive cities get extra money because it costs more to live there. In 2024, there are some changes in the places that get locality pay. Big cities like Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C., usually get this extra pay. Alaska and Hawaii are different because the whole state gets extra pay. The rest of the U.S. gets standard rates.
Also, if you work for the government outside the U.S., you don't get extra money for living in a pricey place.
Who Gets More?
In 2024, some places are getting bigger pay raises than others. People in Seattle-Tacoma, Washington, will see a 5.7% raise, which is the most. San Francisco-San Jose-Oakland, California, is close behind with a 5.62% increase. Meanwhile, workers in Houston-The Woodlands, Texas, will get the smallest increase at 4.89%.
Why Does This Matter?
The GS Pay Scale is important because it makes sure government workers are paid fairly based on their experience, skills, and where they live. It helps the government attract and keep good employees, which is good for the country. So, in 2024, federal employees are in for a nice pay bump, which is great news for them!
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