Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT GS Pay Scale 2026
The 2026 General Schedule locality adjustment for duty stations in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT is +32.58%, 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
Boston-Worcester-Providence is a massive multi-state New England locality pay area with a +32.58% adjustment in 2026. Encompassing eastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, eastern Connecticut, and border communities in Maine and Vermont, this is one of the highest-paying civilian zones in the country. It supports major defense research laboratories, naval submarine bases, EPA and HHS regional headquarters, and prestigious VA tertiary hospitals.
Source: OPM 2026 locality area definitionCalculate Any Grade & Step for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT
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 (Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT)
Click any salary to calculateBuild-time pre-computed adjusted annual salaries for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%). 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 | $46,137 | $69,905 | $120,548 | $167,560 |
| Step 2 | $47,674 | $72,236 | $124,567 | $173,146 |
| Step 3 | $49,212 | $74,567 | $128,585 | $178,731 |
| Step 4 | $50,750 | $76,898 | $132,604 | $184,317 |
| Step 5 | $52,288 | $79,228 | $136,622 | $189,902 |
| Step 6 | $53,826 | $81,559 | $140,641 | $195,488 |
| Step 7 | $55,364 | $83,890 | $144,659 | $197,200⛔ |
| Step 8 | $56,902 | $86,221 | $148,678 | $197,200⛔ |
| Step 9 | $58,440 | $88,552 | $152,696 | $197,200⛔ |
| Step 10 | $59,978 | $90,882 | $156,715 | $197,200⛔ |
⛔ 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 Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%) 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 | Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%) | RUS (+17.06%) | DC (+33.94%) | SF (+46.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5↗ | $34,799 | $46,137 | $40,736 | $46,610 | $50,925 |
| GS-9↗ | $52,727 | $69,905 | $61,722 | $70,623 | $77,161 |
| GS-11↗ | $63,795 | $84,579 | $74,678 | $85,447 | $93,358 |
| GS-12↗ | $76,463 | $101,375 | $89,508 | $102,415 | $111,896 |
| GS-13↗ | $90,925 | $120,548 | $106,437 | $121,785 | $133,060 |
Worked Examples (Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT)
Example A — Mid-Level Specialist (GS-9, Step 1) in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $52,727.00. Locality Adjustment: $52,727 × 32.58% = $17,178.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $69,905.00. Applying the federal 2,087 divisor: $69,905.00 ÷ 2,087 = $33.50/hour. Biweekly Gross Check (80h): $33.50 × 80 = $2,680.00. Monthly Equivalent: $5,825.42.
Example B — Senior Specialist (GS-13, Step 5) in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $103,049.00. Locality Adjustment: $103,049 × 32.58% = $33,573.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $136,622.00. Hourly Rate: $136,622.00 ÷ 2,087 = $65.46/hour. Biweekly Gross Check: $65.46 × 80 = $5,236.80. Monthly Equivalent: $11,385.17.
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT Locality Boundaries & Federal Employers
OPM Code: BOSAll of Rhode Island; Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester in MA; Belknap, Hillsborough, Merrimack, Rockingham, Strafford in NH; Windham, New London in CT; York in ME; Windham in VT.
- Department of Defense (Hanscom AFB, Natick Soldier Systems Center, Naval Submarine Base New London)
- EPA Region 1
- HHS Region 1
- DOT Volpe Center
- VA Boston Healthcare System
Due to extensive cross-state commuting throughout New England, ensure your duty station code on SF-50 corresponds to a facility within the covered multi-state area.
Executive Schedule Level IV caps take effect at GS-15 Step 7 ($198,498 uncapped), capping Steps 7 through 10 at $197,200.
Compare to Other Metros
The 6 OPM locality pay areas closest to Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%) by percentage.
All 58 OPM Locality Pay Areas
Jump to any of the 58 OPM locality pay areas. Your current selection (Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT) is highlighted.
Need Custom Overtime, FERS High-3, or LEO Rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT?
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.
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT GS Pay FAQs
Common questions about federal GS pay, locality adjustments, and the EX-IV cap for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
How is the Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay percentage calculated?
The Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%) 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 Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT before the EX-IV pay cap binds?
For Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT (+32.58%), the EX-IV cap binds starting at GS-15, Step 7. The highest GS grade and step combination that remains uncapped is GS-15, Step 6.
Does the 2026 1.0% raise apply to Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT?
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 Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT. Only the locality percentage differs between areas; the base GS pay table is identical.
Will Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT locality pay increase in 2027?
Locality percentages were frozen at 2025 levels for 2026. The 2027 locality percentages for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT 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.