Index/Organizations/Federal Salary Council

Federal Salary Council

Advisory body of the executive branch of the United States Government

Fact-Checks

29 results
Dec 10, 2025
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How is the federal pay raise for 2026 determined and who sets it?

The 2026 federal civilian base pay adjustment was set by the White House alternative pay plan: President Trump authorized a 1.0% across‑the‑board base pay increase effective the first pay period on or...

Dec 11, 2025
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Where can federal employees find the official 2026 pay tables and effective dates once released?

Federal employees should look to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) as the primary official source for 2026 pay tables and effective dates; OPM posts GS, locality, special rate and related pay m...

Dec 2, 2025
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What is the projected 2026 COLA percentage for federal GS employees?

Available reporting shows there are two different but related numbers to watch for 2026: the COLA for federal retirees (annuitants) — announced as 2.8% for CSRS and effectively 2.0% for many FERS annu...

Dec 16, 2025

How much is the 2026 federal employee pay raise and which pay systems are affected?

Most reporting shows the White House submitted an alternative pay plan that would raise most civilian federal base pay by 1.0% for 2026 while freezing locality pay; select federal law‑enforcement cate...

Dec 4, 2025

Where can federal employees find the official 2026 pay tables and effective dates once announced?

Federal employees should watch the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website for official 2026 GS and special-rate tables; OPM posts final pay tables on opm.gov and typically releases tables in Dec...

Dec 18, 2025

How will locality pay rates change in 2026 and which metro areas see the largest adjustments?

Locality pay for 2026 will be shaped by two competing inputs: technical recommendations from the Federal Salary Council/OPM based on BLS compensation surveys and the Pay Agent’s political decision to ...

Dec 10, 2025

What are the projected 2026 locality pay percentages for each metropolitan statistical area?

OPM and the Federal Salary Council laid out proposed comparability payments for 2026, but the White House’s 2026 alternative pay plan would freeze locality pay at 2025 levels—meaning projected localit...

Dec 12, 2025

Where will the official 2026 federal pay tables be published online?

The official 2026 federal pay tables are published by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on its salaries & wages and General Schedule pages; OPM also posts Federal Wage System and special-r...

Dec 11, 2025

How do locality pay adjustments affect federal employees’ 2026 total pay?

The Administration’s 2026 alternative pay plan sets a 1.0% across‑the‑board GS base pay increase while freezing locality pay increases at 2025 levels, meaning most federal employees will see only the ...

Dec 10, 2025

How do locality pay adjustments vary by metropolitan area for 2026 projections?

Locality pay for 2026 would be applied as a percentage added to the GS base pay and varies by metropolitan-area locality, with higher-percentage adjustments for high-cost metros and lower ones (or the...

Dec 1, 2025

cola for gs employees 2026

Federal civilian pay for 2026 is unsettled in public reporting: several outlets report President Trump submitted an Alternative Pay Plan proposing a 1% across‑the‑board GS raise and a 3.8% boost for s...

Dec 21, 2025

What is the timeline for federal pay increases and retroactive pay in 2026?

The 2026 federal pay increase was finalized as a 1.0% across‑the‑board base pay raise for most civilian General Schedule employees, set to take effect with the first full pay period beginning on or af...

Dec 15, 2025

What is the role of the Federal Salary Council and the President’s Pay Agent in setting 2026 federal raises?

The Federal Salary Council (FSC) recommended a 3.3% across‑the‑board base General Schedule (GS) increase for 2026 based on the Employment Cost Index, and it proposed changes to locality pay areas and ...

Dec 5, 2025

What is the 2025 GS pay raise percentage including locality adjustments?

The 2025 GS (General Schedule) pay adjustment consists of a 1.7% across‑the‑board base pay increase plus an average 0.3% increase in locality comparability payments, yielding an overall average pay bu...

Dec 2, 2025

How is the federal GS COLA for 2026 calculated and who sets it?

The federal GS (General Schedule) pay adjustment for 2026 is determined through a mix of White House proposals, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) implementation, and Congress’ authority — with the ...

Dec 12, 2025

Which metropolitan statistical areas saw the largest proposed locality increase for 2026 and why?

The Federal Salary Council and related OPM recommendations for 2026 identify a small set of metropolitan and combined statistical areas as having the largest proposed locality reclassifications — incl...

Dec 11, 2025

What factors (CPI, budget, negotiations) could change the proposed 2026 federal pay raise?

The most immediate factors that could change the proposed 2026 federal pay raise are the President’s alternative pay plan (a 1% across‑the‑board increase with a freeze on locality pay), Congress’s pow...

Dec 5, 2025

What are locality pay adjustments for 2025 GS base pay and how do they vary by region?

In 2025 the GS base pay received a 1.7% across‑the‑board increase and locality payments added an average of about 0.3%, producing an overall average raise of roughly 2% for most General Schedule emplo...

Dec 3, 2025

How have past federal pay adjustments and COLAs been timed and communicated in previous years?

Federal civilian pay adjustments are typically set by the President in late-year guidance and take effect the first full pay period in January; for 2025 an executive order implemented a 1.7% across‑th...

Dec 12, 2025

Which federal websites and documents are authoritative for 2026 pay adjustments and locality determinations?

Official, authoritative sources for 2026 federal pay adjustments and locality determinations are led by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) — which publishes pay tables, special-rate notices and ...