Federal Pay Raise for 2026 Is Official: Here’s How Much Workers Will Get

The federal pay raise for 2026 is now official. President Trump signed an executive order on December 18 confirming a 1% across-the-board pay increase for most federal civilian employees, making it the smallest adjustment since 2021.

The raise follows an alternative pay plan issued earlier this year and will take effect during the first full pay period after January 1, 2026.

While modest, the increase comes after months of uncertainty caused by a government shutdown and large-scale federal layoffs.
 

No Locality Pay Increase in 2026

The White House has released updated salary tables outlining federal pay schedules, including Locality-Based Comparability Payments.

However, the executive order does not include any locality pay increases for 2026, meaning employees will only see the base 1% adjustment.
 

Not All Federal Workers Get the Same Raise

Not every federal employee will receive just a 1% increase:

• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces will receive a 3.8% pay raise

• Certain federal law enforcement employees may also qualify for raises of up to 3.8%

The executive order does not specify which civilian law enforcement roles are eligible. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will identify and notify those who qualify.
 

Pay Raise Falls Behind Inflation

While the raise avoids a pay freeze, it does not keep pace with rising living costs. Inflation and essential expenses continue to climb, including Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums, which are expected to increase by more than 12% next year.

According to the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), federal pay remains about 27% lower than comparable private-sector jobs, contributing to hiring challenges and staffing shortages across agencies.
 

How the 2026 Raise Compares to Past Years

The 1% General Schedule increase is the lowest in recent years:

• 2025: 1.7%

• 2024: 4.7%

• 2023: 4.1%

• 2022: 2.2%

• 2021: 1%

• 2020: 2.6%

These figures do not include locality pay, which will not apply in 2026.
 

Additional Increases Under Review

Some federal law enforcement officers may receive an additional 2.8% increase, bringing their total raise to 3.8%, matching the military pay adjustment. OPM will oversee eligibility and implementation.

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