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General Schedule

Articles in this section help shed light on the General Schedule (GS) pay system, the cornerstone of compensation for federal employees. Explore comprehensive insights into the GS pay scale, detailing its structure, annual adjustments, and the factors influencing annual federal pay raises. Stay informed about the latest updates and understand how changes in the GS pay scale impact federal employees’ earnings. Whether you’re navigating the intricacies of federal pay or seeking information on recent pay raises, our articles provide in-depth analyses to empower federal workers with the knowledge needed for financial planning and career decisions. Stay current with our expert resources on the GS pay scale and federal pay raise developments.

Federal Pay Reality Check: What About 2027 Pay Raise for Federal Employees?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithDec 29, 2025 6:05 AM | Updated: Jan 11, 2026 11:28 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
3D dollar sign on a road leading to a city in the distance

The Pay Agent’s report exposes the widening gap between federal pay law and federal pay reality—and why meaningful reform keeps getting postponed.

Understanding Federal Pay Compression: Key Issues and Solutions

FedSmith.com author David FeiBy David FeiDec 23, 2025 9:23 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Pink piggy bank getting squeezed by a belt wrapped around it

What is pay compression and what impact can it have on federal employee pay?

2026 GS Pay Scale

FedSmith.com author Ian SmithBy Ian SmithDec 18, 2025 5:28 PM | Updated: Jan 8, 2026 8:50 PM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Spread of US dollars against a teal background

The 2026 GS pay scale is based on a 1% overall average pay raise for federal employees.

2026 Federal Pay Raise Finalized

FedSmith.com author Ian SmithBy Ian SmithDec 18, 2025 3:25 PM | Updated: Jan 2, 2026 12:39 PM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Yellow road sign that reads 'pay raise ahead' on a white background

President Trump has issued an executive order finalizing the 2026 federal pay raise.

What is Locality Pay, How Does it Work, and What is its Impact on Your 2025 Salary?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithJan 31, 2025 7:40 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Businessman walking towards a city skyline with cash appearing to fall around him

Locality pay is a significant benefit for federal employees. Where do employees have the highest and lowest pay raises in 2025?

2025 GS Pay Scale

FedSmith.com author Ian SmithBy Ian SmithDec 23, 2024 3:20 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2025 10:56 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment

The 2025 GS pay scale is based on a 2% overall average pay raise for federal employees.

Biden Issues Executive Order on 2025 Federal Pay Raise

FedSmith.com author Ian SmithBy Ian SmithDec 23, 2024 2:25 PM | Updated: Dec 16, 2025 11:01 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Yellow sign that reads 'pay raise just ahead' against a blue sky background

President Biden has issued the Executive Order finalizing the 2025 federal pay raise.

How Many Federal Employees Are in a Locality Pay Area and How Will Agencies Pay $5 Billion Increase?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithJan 4, 2024 9:24 AM | Updated: Oct 23, 2024 9:56 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Man with his back facing the viewer scratching his head while looking puzzled as he stares at a whiteboard covered with question mark and money bag icons depicting confusion or questions about money/salaries

The number of locality pay areas has increased 63% since 2015. How many federal employees are in a locality pay area, and what is the total cost of locality pay?

2024 Locality Pay: Which Areas Had the Highest (or Lowest) Pay Raises?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithDec 22, 2023 8:35 AM | Updated: Jan 4, 2024 8:59 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
$100 bill on a wooden surface partially built out of puzzle pieces with the other pieces scattered around beside it

Which 2024 locality pay areas received the highest pay raises? Which ones received the lowest? How did the new locality pay areas fare? Here are the answers.

2024 GS Pay Scale for Federal Employees

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithDec 21, 2023 9:17 PM | Updated: Jan 21, 2024 9:47 AM Categories Pay & Benefits Leave a comment
Solid white page being peeled back to expose a spread of money ($100 bills) underneath it

The 2024 GS pay scale is based on a 5.2% average federal pay raise. Here are the pay raises for all GS locality pay areas.

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Daily TSP Performance

February 13, 2026

Fund Last % YTD
G Fund $19.6894 +0.01% +0.52%
F Fund $21.1707 +0.24% +1.38%
C Fund $109.5106 +0.06% 0.00%
S Fund $103.8681 +1.04% +3.45%
I Fund $60.8406 +0.23% +9.64%
L Income $29.6704 +0.09% +1.46%
L 2030 $59.5027 +0.16% +2.42%
L 2035 $18.1589 +0.18% +2.71%
L 2040 $69.7545 +0.20% +2.90%
L 2045 $19.3316 +0.21% +3.07%
L 2050 $42.8927 +0.22% +3.23%
L 2055 $22.2278 +0.25% +3.73%
L 2060 $22.2254 +0.25% +3.73%
L 2065 $22.2229 +0.25% +3.73%
L 2070 $13.1713 +0.25% +3.73%
L 2075 $11.5052 +0.25% +3.73%
Get detailed TSP data at TSPDataCenter.com

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