When will the official 2026 federal pay adjustment and COLA be announced?
Executive summary
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) typically publishes official federal pay tables in December for the coming year; sources say OPM "usually publishes pay tables ... sometime in December" for 2026 pay implementation in January 2026 [1]. The Social Security Administration announced the 2026 COLA on Oct. 24, 2025 — 2.8% — and that COLA takes effect in January 2026 [2] [3].
1. Why the question matters now — pay tables, COLA and timing collide
Federal workers and retirees rely on two separate official actions: OPM’s publication of GS pay tables (which set base pay and locality tables) and SSA’s COLA announcement (which sets Social Security and affects some federal retirement adjustments). OPM’s detailed pay tables for the next calendar year have historically been finalized and published in December, with implementation in the first pay period in January [1]. The SSA’s 2026 COLA, by contrast, was publicly announced Oct. 24, 2025 and set at 2.8% based on CPI-W changes for the third quarter [2] [3].
2. The legal and administrative cadence — who says what, and when
Under established practice the president or OPM sets an “alternative pay plan” or follows FEPCA’s statutory formula, and OPM translates that into pay tables that are published in December for a January effective date [4] [1]. Multiple outlets note the White House transmitted an alternative pay plan for 2026 (1% base raise, locality frozen, larger raises for certain law enforcement roles), and OPM said the pay tables for those adjustments would be published at the same time the broader GS pay tables are released — usually in December [4] [1].
3. What has already been announced (and what’s not): base pay, locality, law enforcement premiums
The White House’s 2026 alternative pay plan communicated a 1.0% across-the-board base pay increase and a decision to set locality increases at zero, while directing OPM to identify law enforcement categories for a higher 3.8% bump. Several reporting outlets and the administration’s letter describe the adjustment taking effect in the first applicable pay period on or after Jan. 1, 2026 [4] [5] [1].
4. The COLA story — SSA’s October announcement and its mechanics
Social Security’s COLA is computed from the CPI-W average for July–September versus the prior year’s third quarter; SSA announced a 2.8% COLA for 2026 on Oct. 24, 2025 after the Bureau of Labor Statistics released September CPI data [3] [2]. Reporting explains the timing was briefly delayed by a government shutdown but the final COLA was issued Oct. 24 and takes effect in beneficiaries’ January 2026 checks [6] [7].
5. Key calendar you should watch — concrete dates and windows
For COLA: SSA announced the 2026 COLA on Oct. 24, 2025 and beneficiaries begin receiving adjusted payments in January 2026 [2] [7]. For federal pay tables: OPM “usually publishes pay tables for the following calendar year sometime in December,” and multiple summaries note those tables will be finalized and published by December with pay adjustments taking effect in the first full pay period in January 2026 [1] [8].
6. Sources disagree on magnitude and political pressure — why final numbers can still change
News outlets, unions and advocacy groups report competing plans: the White House’s alternative plan (1% / frozen locality / targeted LEO increases) versus congressional proposals and union-backed bills seeking larger raises (e.g., bills proposing ~4.3% or union campaigns urging Congress to override the freeze) [5] [9] [10]. That means OPM’s December pay tables reflect the administration’s decision unless Congress intervenes or legislation changes statutory authority before pay implementation [5] [9].
7. Practical takeaway for employees and retirees — when to expect formal notice
Retirees: your COLA was announced Oct. 24, 2025 (2.8%) and adjustments appear starting in January 2026 [2] [7]. Active federal employees: expect OPM’s official GS and locality pay tables in December 2025; those tables implement the administration’s alternative pay plan effective the first pay period on/after Jan. 1, 2026 unless Congress acts to change the outcome [1] [4].
Limitations and what’s not in current reporting: available sources do not mention an exact calendar day in December when OPM will publish the 2026 pay tables beyond the general “sometime in December” timing [1]. Sources also do not state whether any late congressional action between December and January could legally alter OPM’s published tables once released (not found in current reporting).