Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL GS Pay Scale 2026
The 2026 General Schedule locality adjustment for duty stations in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL is +18.24%, applied on top of OPM's official 2026 GS base pay table, capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200). This page covers all 15 GS grades and all 10 within-grade steps for this specific locality pay area.
Last updated: · Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GS · Executive Order 14368
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega covers central Alabama with an +18.24% locality adjustment for the 2026 pay year. This federal zone encompasses major regional Social Security processing centers, extensive VA medical campuses, and US Army Reserve and National Guard support commands. Because north Alabama has separate rates under Huntsville (+21.91%), civil service personnel must note their official duty station county to distinguish between the two zones.
Source: OPM 2026 locality area definitionCalculate Any Grade & Step for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL
Select your exact GS Grade and Step to open the full interactive calculator pre-loaded for this locality.
Spotlight: GS-5, GS-9, GS-13, GS-15 Across All 10 Steps (Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL)
Click any salary to calculateBuild-time pre-computed adjusted annual salaries for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%). Values capped at EX-IV $197,200. Click any salary to load overtime, biweekly check, and FERS pension estimates in the interactive engine.
| Step | GS-5 ↗ | GS-9 ↗ | GS-13 ↗ | GS-15 ↗ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,146 | $62,344 | $107,510 | $149,436 |
| Step 2 | $42,518 | $64,423 | $111,094 | $154,418 |
| Step 3 | $43,890 | $66,502 | $114,677 | $159,399 |
| Step 4 | $45,261 | $68,580 | $118,261 | $164,381 |
| Step 5 | $46,633 | $70,659 | $121,845 | $169,362 |
| Step 6 | $48,004 | $72,738 | $125,429 | $174,344 |
| Step 7 | $49,376 | $74,816 | $129,013 | $179,325 |
| Step 8 | $50,747 | $76,895 | $132,597 | $184,307 |
| Step 9 | $52,119 | $78,974 | $136,181 | $189,288 |
| Step 10 | $53,491 | $81,052 | $139,764 | $194,270 |
⛔ Cell flagged amber when the unadjusted locality-adjusted salary would exceed the $197,200 Executive Schedule Level IV cap.
Quick Reference: Step 1 Across 5 Common Comparison Points
Compare Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%) against Rest of U.S., Washington DC, and San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland at GS-5, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 Step 1.
| Grade (Step 1) | Base Pay | Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%) | RUS (+17.06%) | DC (+33.94%) | SF (+46.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5↗ | $34,799 | $41,146 | $40,736 | $46,610 | $50,925 |
| GS-9↗ | $52,727 | $62,344 | $61,722 | $70,623 | $77,161 |
| GS-11↗ | $63,795 | $75,431 | $74,678 | $85,447 | $93,358 |
| GS-12↗ | $76,463 | $90,410 | $89,508 | $102,415 | $111,896 |
| GS-13↗ | $90,925 | $107,510 | $106,437 | $121,785 | $133,060 |
Worked Examples (Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL)
Example A — Mid-Level Specialist (GS-9, Step 1) in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $52,727.00. Locality Adjustment: $52,727 × 18.24% = $9,617.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $62,344.00. Applying the federal 2,087 divisor: $62,344.00 ÷ 2,087 = $29.87/hour. Biweekly Gross Check (80h): $29.87 × 80 = $2,389.60. Monthly Equivalent: $5,195.33.
Example B — Senior Specialist (GS-13, Step 5) in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $103,049.00. Locality Adjustment: $103,049 × 18.24% = $18,796.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $121,845.00. Hourly Rate: $121,845.00 ÷ 2,087 = $58.38/hour. Biweekly Gross Check: $58.38 × 80 = $4,670.40. Monthly Equivalent: $10,153.75.
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL Locality Boundaries & Federal Employers
OPM Code: BHMBibb, Blount, Chilton, Coosa, Cullman, Jefferson, St. Clair, Shelby, Talladega, and Walker counties in AL.
- Social Security Administration (Southeastern Program Service Center)
- Department of Veterans Affairs (Birmingham VA Health Care System)
- Department of Justice (US Attorney's Office, ATF, US Marshals)
- US Army Reserve 81st Readiness Division
Personnel transferring between Birmingham and Huntsville should inspect SF-50 Box 39, as the locality adjustment shifts from 18.24% to 21.91%.
All steps through GS-15 Step 10 ($194,269) remain uncapped and below the Executive Schedule Level IV limit of $197,200.
Compare to Other Metros
The 6 OPM locality pay areas closest to Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%) by percentage.
All 58 OPM Locality Pay Areas
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Need Custom Overtime, FERS High-3, or LEO Rates for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL?
Launch our full interactive 2026 Federal Pay Calculator with real-time sliders, Title 5 statutory overtime cap enforcement, and copyable pay breakdown for all 58 localities.
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL GS Pay FAQs
Common questions about federal GS pay, locality adjustments, and the EX-IV cap for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL.
How is the Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL locality pay percentage calculated?
The Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL (+18.24%) locality pay percentage is derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Metropolitan Statistical Area wage surveys. OPM compares federal and non-federal pay in the area and caps the resulting differential at the national Employment Cost Index (ECI) to comply with 5 U.S.C. § 5304.
What is the highest GS grade I can reach in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL before the EX-IV pay cap binds?
No GS grade and step combination in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL hits the Executive Schedule Level IV cap of $197,200 in 2026.
Does the 2026 1.0% raise apply to Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL?
Yes. The 2026 1.0% across-the-board base pay increase authorized by Executive Order 14368 applies uniformly to all 58 OPM locality pay areas, including Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL. Only the locality percentage differs between areas; the base GS pay table is identical.
Will Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL locality pay increase in 2027?
Locality percentages were frozen at 2025 levels for 2026. The 2027 locality percentages for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL and the other 57 areas will depend on the President's Pay Agent decision following the Federal Salary Council recommendation in late 2026. Check back here after the December 2026 Executive Order for the official 2027 figures.