GS-15 Pay — Raleigh-Durham (2026)
This page shows GS-15 pay in the Raleigh-Durham locality pay area for 2026. The Raleigh-Durham area adds 22.24% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $154,492 | $74.03 | $5,922.40 |
| Step 2 | $159,642 | $76.49 | $6,119.20 |
| Step 3 | $164,792 | $78.96 | $6,316.80 |
| Step 4 | $169,942 | $81.43 | $6,514.40 |
| Step 5 | $175,092 | $83.90 | $6,712.00 |
| Step 6 | $180,242 | $86.36 | $6,908.80 |
| Step 7 | $185,392 | $88.83 | $7,106.40 |
| Step 8 | $190,542 | $91.30 | $7,304.00 |
| Step 9 | $195,692 | $93.77 | $7,501.60 |
| Step 10 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
* Capped at Level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200 in 2026) — GS locality-adjusted pay cannot exceed the EX-IV cap (5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(1)).
Locality pay is calculated as the base rate multiplied by one plus the locality percentage, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Check another grade, step or locality
| Base pay (before locality) | $143,236 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC locality | 22.24% |
| Adjusted annual | $175,092 |
| Per month | $14,591 |
| Bi-weekly | $6,712.00 |
| Hourly | $83.90 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full Raleigh-Durham GS scale
- GS-15 in every locality
- GS-14 in Raleigh-Durham
- GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-15 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-15 in New York-Newark
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-15 make in Raleigh-Durham?
For 2026, GS-15 in Raleigh-Durham ranges from $154,492 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $175,092 near the middle.
How is Raleigh-Durham locality pay calculated?
The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Raleigh-Durham locality percentage of 22.24%, then rounded to the nearest dollar.
What is the 2026 raise?
For 2026, the across-the-board base rate rose while locality percentages were held at their prior-year levels, so the Raleigh-Durham rate remained 22.24%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-15 figures for Raleigh-Durham are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-RA · effective January 11, 2026 · Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC, 22.24% locality. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.