Use the links below to jump straight to official OPM pay tables for 2025 — including General Schedule (GS), Law Enforcement Officer (LEO), Wildland Firefighter (GW), Executive & Senior levels, and Special Rates — plus how Federal Wage System (FWS) schedules work.
- GS base increase: 1.7% in January 2025 (locality varies).
- Executive Schedule (EX): Level I $250,600; Level V $183,100 (Jan 2025).
- Wildland Firefighter (GW): 2025 GW tables effective Mar 23, 2025.
- FWS pay limits (FY 2025): certain prevailing-rate increases capped per statute.
Always verify your locality and effective dates on the linked OPM pages before using a figure for payroll or budgeting.
General Schedule (GS) & Locality Pay
The GS system covers most white-collar Federal roles from GS-1 to GS-15 and uses 10 steps per grade; within-grade step increases are performance-based and time-in-step (1/2/3 years). Locality pay adjusts GS for regional labor markets.
- 2025 GS Locality Pay Tables (browse by locality)
- 2025 GS Base Pay PDF (nationwide base)
- GS Overview: grades, steps, promotions
Notes: 2025 GS base increase is 1.7%; OPM currently lists 47 locality pay areas. Effective dates and locality percentages are shown on the OPM tables.
Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) Tables
Applies to employees meeting the statutory LEO definition. Includes special base rates and overseas rates.
Wildland Firefighters (GW)
Special GW pay plan with 2025 tables effective March 23, 2025. Check your locality page for annual and hourly rates.
Executive & Senior Levels
2025 basic rates for Executive Schedule (EX) and other senior systems:
- Executive & Senior Level Pay Tables (index)
- 2025 Executive Schedule PDF — Level I $250,600; II $225,700; III $207,500; IV $195,200; V $183,100
Some senior political positions may be subject to temporary pay freezes per appropriations law; check OPM memos for current status.
Federal Wage System (FWS) — Hourly (Blue-Collar)
DOD’s Defense Civilian Personnel Advisory Service (DCPAS) conducts local wage surveys and issues FWS wage schedules. Use the official site to pull your area’s latest schedule.
FY 2025 note: Certain prevailing-rate increases are capped under section 737; see OPM CPM 2024-25.
Special Rate Tables
OPM approves special rates where staffing is difficult at standard GS rates.
How GS Pay & Promotions Work (Fast Refresher)
- Grades & steps: GS-1 to GS-15; 10 steps each. Typical time-in-step: 1 year (steps 1–3), 2 years (4–6), 3 years (7–9). Quality step increases are possible for top performance.
- Locality pay: geographic adjustment (47 locality areas, including Alaska, Hawaii, and RUS).
- Promotions: generally at least two-step equivalent into the new grade; governed by OPM regs and agency policy.
Always confirm caps (e.g., EX-IV limitations on locality rates) and any agency-specific rules in OPM’s pay administration guidance.
Accessibility & Help
- Questions about pay policy? Email [email protected] (OPM).
- FWS schedule help: DCPAS Wage & Salary, 571-372-1614.
- Hearing impaired: Federal Relay Service TTY 1-800-877-8339.
Sources
- OPM — 2025 GS Locality Pay Tables. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
- OPM — GS Base Table (PDF). :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- OPM — GS overview & locality areas. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- OPM — 2025 LEO pay tables. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- OPM — 2025 Wildland Firefighter (GW) tables & RUS example. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- OPM — Executive & Senior Level Pay (index) + EX PDF. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- OPM — Special Rate Tables (index & search). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- DCPAS — FWS wage schedules portal. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
- OPM — FWS overview + FY 2025 pay limitation memo link. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- CHCO Council — OPM CPM 2024-25 (PDF). :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
