GS-3 Pay — San Diego-Chula Vista (2026)
This page shows GS-3 pay in the San Diego-Chula Vista locality pay area for 2026. The San Diego-Chula Vista area adds 33.72% in locality pay on top of the GS-3 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,051 | $17.75 | $1,420.00 |
| Step 2 | $38,287 | $18.35 | $1,468.00 |
| Step 3 | $39,522 | $18.94 | $1,515.20 |
| Step 4 | $40,758 | $19.53 | $1,562.40 |
| Step 5 | $41,993 | $20.12 | $1,609.60 |
| Step 6 | $43,229 | $20.71 | $1,656.80 |
| Step 7 | $44,465 | $21.31 | $1,704.80 |
| Step 8 | $45,700 | $21.90 | $1,752.00 |
| Step 9 | $46,936 | $22.49 | $1,799.20 |
| Step 10 | $48,171 | $23.08 | $1,846.40 |
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) | $31,404 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA locality | 33.72% |
| Adjusted annual | $41,993 |
| Per month | $3,499 |
| Bi-weekly | $1,609.60 |
| Hourly | $20.12 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full San Diego-Chula Vista GS scale
- GS-3 in every locality
- GS-2 in San Diego-Chula Vista
- GS-4 in San Diego-Chula Vista
- GS-3 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-3 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-3 in New York-Newark
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-3 make in San Diego-Chula Vista?
For 2026, GS-3 in San Diego-Chula Vista ranges from $37,051 at the first step to $48,171 at the top step, with $41,993 near the middle.
How is San Diego-Chula Vista locality pay calculated?
The GS-3 base rate is multiplied by one plus the San Diego-Chula Vista locality percentage of 33.72%, 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 San Diego-Chula Vista rate remained 33.72%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-3 figures for San Diego-Chula Vista are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-SD · effective January 11, 2026 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA, 33.72% 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.