Methodology & sources

This page explains exactly where our numbers come from and how we compute the ones the government publishes in tables. If a figure on UniformedPay ever disagrees with the official source, the official source wins. Please tell us at support@inventum.com.au.

1. Datasets

Everything is built from primary US government tables, all public domain under 17 U.S.C. §105:

• The OPM General Schedule base table and the OPM locality pay tables.
• The DFAS military basic pay tables.
• The OPM Senior Executive Service and Executive Schedule tables.

Source agencies: opm.gov and dfas.mil.

2. The GS locality formula

Locality-adjusted annual pay = base rate × (1 + locality percentage), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly pay = annual ÷ 2,087. Bi-weekly pay = hourly × 80. We compute each cell this way and confirm it matches OPM's published cell to the dollar before it ships.

3. The 2026 locality freeze

For 2026, the across-the-board GS base increase (1.0%) was applied, while locality pay percentages were held at the prior year's levels. We take each locality percentage directly from that year's official locality table. We never estimate it by scaling a single national raise across localities, which is the most common error in unofficial pay tools.

4. The EX-IV pay cap

Under 5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(1), GS locality-adjusted pay cannot exceed Level IV of the Executive Schedule, which is $197,200 in 2026. We apply this cap to the affected high-locality GS-15 cells, so the figures we show are the pay actually payable, not an uncapped calculation.

5. Military basic pay

Military basic pay is not a formula. It is a lookup by paygrade and years of service, taken straight from the DFAS table (a 3.8% raise in 2026). The Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) and the Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS) are separate allowances with their own tables, not part of basic pay.

6. Refresh cadence

GS and military pay tables update each January. BAH rates update each December. Annual raise figures are typically announced between December and February. We publish updated tables within days of each official release and stamp the verified date on the page.

7. Cross-check and corrections

Every figure is verified against the official OPM or DFAS table before publication, and re-checked on each refresh. Our most recent verification is stamped July 20, 2026. If you spot a discrepancy, email support@inventum.com.au and we will correct it.

UniformedPay is an independent reference tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to OPM, the Department of Defense, DFAS, or any United States government agency.