How GS locality, hourly, daily and biweekly pay rates are computed

The calculator shows the rates printed in OPM's General Schedule salary tables and applies the rules of 5 CFR 531.604, 531.606 and 531.607 quoted below (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo).

Locality rate

(4) Increasing the employee's scheduled annual rate of pay by the applicable locality pay percentage and rounding the result to the nearest whole dollar (counting 50 cents and over as the next higher dollar); and (5) Applying any applicable limitation as described in § 531.606.
5 CFR 531.604(b)(4)-(5) (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo)

locality_rate = min(floor(scheduled_annual_rate * (1 + locality_pct / 100) + 0.5), ex_iv_rate)

Salary Table 2026-DCB prints a locality payment of 33.94% and, for Grade 1 Step 1, an annual rate of $30,249; Salary Table 2026-GS prints $22,584 for the same grade and step (Salary Table 2026-DCB, Salary Table 2026-GS).

Limit on locality rates

(a) Except as provided by paragraph (b) of this section, a locality rate may not exceed the rate of basic pay payable for level IV of the Executive Schedule.
5 CFR 531.606(a) (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo)

Salary Table 2026-DCB prints $197,200 for Grade 15 Step 10 with the note "* Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1))." and a SalaryCap of $197,200 (Salary Table 2026-DCB). Salary Table 2025-DCB prints a SalaryCap of $195,200 (Salary Table 2025-DCB).

Hourly rate

(1) To derive an hourly rate, divide the annual locality rate by 2,087 and round to the nearest cent, counting one-half cent and over as the next higher cent.
5 CFR 531.607(a)(1) (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo)

Example: Annual locality rate = $50,000 Computation of hourly rate: $50,000 ÷ 2,087 = 23.957 or $23.96.
5 CFR 531.607(a)(1) worked example

Daily rate

(2) To derive a daily rate, multiply the hourly rate by the number of daily hours of service required by the employee's basic daily tour of duty.
5 CFR 531.607(a)(2) (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo)

Example: Hourly rate = $23.96 Daily hours = 8 Computation of daily rate: $23.96 × 8 = $191.68
5 CFR 531.607(a)(2) worked example

Weekly and biweekly rates

(3) To derive a weekly or biweekly rate, multiply the hourly rate by 40 or 80, as applicable.
5 CFR 531.607(a)(3) (CFR annual edition 2025-01-01, govinfo)

Example: Hourly rate = $23.96 Biweekly hours = 80 Computation of biweekly rate: $23.96 × 80 = $1,916.80
5 CFR 531.607(a)(3) worked example

Table elements used

Definitions from OPM's Pay Tables XML data dictionary:

Abbreviation PayTable String Abbreviated location denoting which locality pay area the data is referring to
LocalityPayArea PayTable String Full location name denoting which locality pay area the data is referring to
Value Grade Integer Denotes the Grade number (1-15)
Value Step Integer Denotes the Step number (1-10) for a given Grade
Annual Step Integer Numerical value denoting the annual salary for a given Step and Grade
Hourly Step Decimal Numerical value denoting the hourly rate for a given Step and Grade
Overtime Step Decimal Numerical value denoting the overtime hourly rate for a given Step and Grade
Statutory_Cap_Applies Step Boolean True/False value that determines whether a Statutory Cap is applied to the given Step