What is the GS scale increase for 2025?

For 2025, President Biden issued an executive order for an average 2% GS pay raise, consisting of a 1.7% base increase and 0.3% for locality, effective early 2025, though some reports from late 2025 mention a 1% raise finalized for 2026, suggesting different years' figures were discussed. The official Office of Personnel Management (OPM) released 2025 pay tables, incorporating these adjustments, with locality pay expanding to certain areas like Wyandot County, OH.

What is the GS schedule increase for 2025?

For 2025, the GS schedule increase was an average of 2%, consisting of a 1.7% base pay increase plus a 0.3% locality pay adjustment, effective January 2025, though specific amounts varied by location. FederalPay.org provides the official pay scales, OPM has the detailed tables, and GSA confirms the figures for federal employees. 

How much will a GS 11 make in 2025?

How much does a Gs 11 make in California? As of Dec 25, 2025, the average annual pay for a Gs 11 in California is $282,193 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $135.67 an hour. This is the equivalent of $5,426/week or $23,516/month.

Will GS pay scale increase in 2026?

Most civilian employees on the General Schedule are set for a 1% pay bump beginning in January, after President Donald Trump signed an executive order Thursday afternoon finalizing the 2026 federal pay raise.

What is the projected salary increase for 2025?

For 2025, expected salary increases in the U.S. averaged around 3.5% to 3.6%, slightly lower than initial projections but a continuation of modest raises, with variations by industry (e.g., higher in tech/science, lower in retail/education) and a shift towards performance-based recognition amidst economic uncertainty, according to reports from Mercer, WTW, Payscale, and The Conference Board. 

2026 Federal Pay Raise - How Will It Impact Your Salary?

What is the new salary increase for 2025?

For 2025, average U.S. salary increases hovered around 3.5%, with actual merit raises slightly lower (around 3.2%) than initial projections, indicating a return towards pre-pandemic norms after higher recent years, though most workers still expected a raise, with variations by industry and performance. Federal workers saw a 2% average raise with locality adjustments. 

Is a 20% raise for a promotion reasonable?

Yes, a 20% raise for a promotion is generally considered very good to excellent, often representing a significant increase that reflects substantial new responsibilities, a major jump in a salary band, or a desire by the company to retain an exceptional employee, as typical promotion raises are often 10-15%. While context matters (industry, location, your current pay), a 20% bump is strong enough to show you're valued and can make a big difference in your career trajectory. 

What is the cost-of-living increase for OPM 2025?

For 2025, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implemented a 2.5% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees and Social Security, while Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees received a smaller 2% "diet" COLA, effective with their January 2025 payments, reflecting lower inflation trends after prior higher adjustments. 

What is the salary increase for 2026?

The Government has approved a 9 percent salary increase for all public sector workers under the Single Spine Salary Structure (SSSS) for the 2026 fiscal year. The National Tripartite Committee has also agreed to a 9 percent adjustment to the national daily minimum wage which currently stands at GH₵19.97.

Who still pays $7.25 an hour?

Employers in states that haven't set their own higher minimum wage, or have set it at the federal level, still pay $7.25/hour, including states like Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wisconsin, and Wyoming, though few workers actually earn this due to local laws or employer choice, as many states have higher rates and local ordinances often mandate more, notes OnPay. 

Is GS-13 a high position?

Yes, a GS-13 position is considered a high, senior-level position in the U.S. federal government, representing advanced expertise, responsibility, and often management/leadership, sitting just below the top-tier GS-14/15 and Senior Executive Service (SES) levels. GS-13 roles often involve managing complex projects, developing policy, providing expert advice, and supervising teams, typically requiring a master's degree or equivalent experience. 

How much does a GS-15 make in DC 2025?

For 2025, the GS-15 pay scale in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington (DCB) locality, includes salaries from $167,603 (Step 1) up to $195,200 for Steps 6 through 10, reflecting the annual OPM pay increase for federal employees in the area, with specific amounts varying by step, notes FEDweek and the official OPM salary table for DCB. 

Is GS 11 a high rank?

A GS-11 is a mid-level to senior professional position, not typically entry-level, requiring significant education (like a Master's or PhD) or extensive specialized experience, often serving as a full-performance level or a stepping stone to higher grades (GS-12/13). While not the absolute highest (GS-15), it's a respected grade representing substantial responsibility, especially in technical or supervisory roles, with strong earning potential depending on locality. 

What is the minimum salary increase for 2025?

The new Minimum Wage shall be R 10, 616.35, with effect from 1 July 2025. 1 Page 2 Employees and Employers should note that the Minimum Wage, as per clause 7.2 of the Collective Agreement, has already increased by 1.5% to R 10 109.85, with effect from 1 March 2025.

Is a 3% raise really a raise?

Yes, a 3% raise is a raise in that your pay goes up, but whether it's a good raise depends heavily on inflation and cost of living; it's often considered a standard, minimal adjustment to keep pace, not a significant boost, especially if inflation is high, potentially just covering increased costs rather than improving your financial standing. While it's a common budget amount for companies, a raise below the inflation rate means you're effectively earning less in real terms, though a 3-5% range is typical for annual merit/cost-of-living bumps.
 

What is the federal pay freeze 2025?

In November 2025, the Office of Personnel Management notified agencies that the pay freeze for certain senior political officials had been extended through January 30, 2026, by section 140 of division A of the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and ...

What salary increase should I expect in 2025?

A good raise in 2025 typically falls around the 3.5% to 4% range, aligning with average employer budgets, but a great raise involves exceeding this with top performance (5.6%) or promotions, while switching jobs often yields the best results (10-20%+), as staying put limits annual increases. Factors like industry (tech/insurance often higher) and individual achievements significantly influence what's considered good. 

How much is the 2025 federal pay raise?

Prior to 2021, the last time feds received a raise of 1% or lower was 2015, the final year of what had been a multi-year drought in civilian employee increases. More recently, most General Schedule employees received raises of 2.7% in 2022, 4.6% in 2023, 5.2% in 2024, and 2% in 2025.

What is the salary increment for 2025?

For 2025, average U.S. salary increases hovered around 3.5%, with actual merit raises slightly lower (around 3.2%) than initial projections, indicating a return towards pre-pandemic norms after higher recent years, though most workers still expected a raise, with variations by industry and performance. Federal workers saw a 2% average raise with locality adjustments. 

How much is GS Basic pay 2025?

The 2025 GS base pay scale reflects a 1.7% across-the-board increase effective January 2025, with rates varying by grade and step, starting from around $22,360 (GS-1, Step 1) up to $162,672 (GS-15, Step 10) in the Rest of U.S. (RUS) locality, plus locality pay adjustments, though the finalized locality percentages were subject to presidential/congressional approval later in the year. The base rate for GS-1, Step 1, began at $22,360, while higher steps like GS-15, Step 10 reached $162,672, with locality pay adding significant geographic variations.
 

Will GS employees get a raise in 2026?

The 2026 pay raise for general schedule (GS) employees will take effect during the first full pay period of 2026, which is January 11-24 for most employees. Before Christmas, President Trump signed an executive order implementing a one percent raise for most civilian employees, the smallest increase since 2021.

What is the salary adjustment for 2025?

Salary increments are moderating with fewer employers giving increments of 5% or more: 18% of employers expect to increase salaries by between 5% and 7% in 2025/2026, compared to 20% in 2024/2025. Similarly, only 5% plan to give increments of 7% or more, down from 6%.

What is the average raise percentage in 2025?

Meanwhile, employers delivered an average total increase of 3.5%, which accounts for all salary increases, including merit, promotional, cost-of-living, and other adjustments, in 2025. That's also lower than their fall projections, when U.S. employers said they expected to deliver an average 3.6% pay bump.

Is it better to get a bonus or raise?

Key Takeaways. Raises increase ongoing payroll expenses, while bonuses provide financial flexibility. Bonuses motivate employees by tying compensation to performance or company success.

What is a dry promotion?

Also known as “quiet promotions,” dry promotions are role advancements that don't come with a pay increase. In most cases, these promotions come with a new title and responsibilities. But unlike traditional promotions, the compensation stays the same.