A pay grade or salary grade scale (e.g., GS Pay Scale 2022), a structured pay format where new employees places at a given pay level based on their level of education and work experience regarding the position. Appointments in the organizations are at a specific pay grade with purpose to balance both internal and external equity.
A basic pay grade structure has several pay grade levels and a range of steps or placements at each level. This allows for higher pay for a job with more experience. An organization may have 10 to 12 grade levels and three to five steps at each level. Jobs that need more education and work experience are ranked higher.
The General Schedule (GS) base payscale is adjusted for cost of living based on locality.
The General Schedule (GS) payscale, a federal government payscale used to determine the salaries of over 70% of federal civilian employees.
An employee’s base pay depends on two factors – the GS Paygrade of their job, and the Paygrade Step they have achieved (depends on seniority or performance).
The base pay table shows the amounts for all General Schedule employees. Based on the GS Pay Scale as published by the Office of Personnel Management.
Moreover, General Schedule base pay tables revised yearly, effective each January, to reflect inflation and increasing costs of living.
While official pay tables for the upcoming year (e.g., 2023) will publish by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) in December. FederalPay will publish estimated pay tables. As soon as the federal pay raise percentages for the upcoming year approved by Congress each fall.
Locality wise Rates
Purpose of GS Pay Scale
Moreover, Pay grade schedules (e.g., GS Pay Scale 2022) have increased in notability in the early 21st century. The federal government has a system known as the General Schedule (GS) in place for all federal jobs. Also remember that, many private sector employers use them as well. Generally, HR professionals adopt for this pay instead of market-based pay to maintain equity.
