Calculate Federal Employee Pay Raise 2018
Use this interactive calculator to estimate how the 2018 federal pay adjustment affected a General Schedule employee’s annual compensation. Enter your 2017 basic pay, choose a locality area, and compare estimated 2017 earnings to projected 2018 pay after the 1.4% across-the-board increase plus updated locality pay.
2018 Federal Pay Raise Calculator
Results will appear here
Enter your 2017 basic pay, select a locality area, and click the button to estimate your 2018 federal salary adjustment.
Pay Comparison Chart
The chart below compares estimated 2017 total adjusted pay, estimated 2018 total adjusted pay, and the annual dollar increase based on your selected locality.
Expert Guide: How to Calculate Federal Employee Pay Raise for 2018
If you are trying to calculate federal employee pay raise 2018 figures accurately, the key is to separate two different parts of General Schedule compensation: basic pay and locality pay. Many employees remember that the 2018 federal pay raise was commonly described as an average increase of about 1.9%, but that headline number can be misleading if you are estimating your own paycheck. In practice, federal compensation in 2018 was affected by a 1.4% across-the-board increase in base GS pay plus a locality adjustment that varied by geographic pay area. That means two employees at the same grade and step could see slightly different total percentage increases depending on where they worked.
This page is designed to make the calculation easier. Rather than forcing you to look through multiple General Schedule tables manually, the calculator lets you start with your 2017 annual basic pay, choose the applicable locality area, and estimate the total 2018 adjusted rate. It is especially useful for employees, retirees, payroll specialists, union representatives, and family members who want a quick and practical estimate before checking the official tables from the Office of Personnel Management.
What changed in 2018 federal pay?
For most white-collar federal employees paid under the General Schedule, the 2018 adjustment had two main pieces:
- Base pay increase: 1.4% applied to GS base pay rates nationwide.
- Locality pay adjustment: additional increases applied by locality pay area, producing an average overall increase of roughly 1.9%.
- Geographic variation: large metropolitan areas such as San Francisco and New York generally had higher locality percentages than the Rest of U.S. pay area.
That structure matters because locality pay is calculated on top of basic pay. If you only apply 1.9% to your prior salary, you may get a quick estimate, but you will not have a locality-specific answer. The more reliable approach is to calculate the 2018 base rate first, then apply the locality percentage for your pay area.
The simplest formula to estimate your 2018 pay
To calculate federal employee pay raise 2018 estimates, use this sequence:
- Start with your 2017 annual basic pay.
- Multiply that number by 1.014 to apply the 1.4% base increase.
- Find your locality percentage for 2018.
- Multiply the new basic pay by 1 + locality percentage.
- Compare the result to your 2017 adjusted pay if you want to see your dollar increase.
Written as a formula:
2018 adjusted pay = (2017 basic pay × 1.014) × (1 + 2018 locality rate)
For comparison, your estimated 2017 adjusted pay can be represented as:
2017 adjusted pay = 2017 basic pay × (1 + 2017 locality rate)
The difference between those two totals gives you the estimated annual raise. This method is what the calculator on this page uses.
Selected 2017 versus 2018 locality statistics
The table below shows selected locality areas and commonly cited percentage rates used to estimate the 2018 pay change. These figures demonstrate why employees in different regions may have seen different total increases even when the same 1.4% base adjustment applied nationwide.
| Locality Area | 2017 Locality Rate | 2018 Locality Rate | Estimated Change in Locality Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | 14.16% | 15.37% | +1.21 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 26.53% | 28.22% | +1.69 |
| New York-Newark | 30.52% | 32.86% | +2.34 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 37.17% | 39.28% | +2.11 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 30.57% | 32.41% | +1.84 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 26.20% | 28.57% | +2.37 |
These locality percentages are important because they compound on top of basic pay. If you live in a high-locality area, the impact of even a modest base increase can translate into a larger annual dollar gain than an employee with the same basic pay in a lower-locality region.
Worked examples using a $50,000 basic pay figure
It often helps to see the math with a consistent salary. In the next table, a hypothetical employee with a 2017 annual basic pay of $50,000 is used to show how locality can change the 2018 result.
| Locality Area | Estimated 2017 Adjusted Pay | Estimated 2018 Adjusted Pay | Estimated Annual Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $57,080.00 | $58,498.09 | $1,418.09 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | $63,265.00 | $65,315.54 | $2,050.54 |
| New York-Newark | $65,260.00 | $67,655.02 | $2,395.02 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $68,585.00 | $70,699.96 | $2,114.96 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $63,100.00 | $65,494.99 | $2,394.99 |
The sample data shows an important truth: a federal employee’s 2018 raise was not just a flat percentage applied to gross pay. The exact effect depended on the interaction between base pay and locality. That is why a proper locality-based estimate is superior to a generic “multiply by 1.9%” shortcut.
Why your paycheck may not match your annual salary estimate perfectly
Even if your annual calculation is correct, your actual net paycheck may look different. Here are some common reasons:
- Tax withholding: Federal, state, and local tax deductions may have changed.
- Retirement contributions: FERS and TSP withholding reduce take-home pay.
- Health and insurance premiums: FEHB, FEGLI, and other benefit deductions affect net pay.
- Biweekly payroll timing: A salary table describes annual rates, but paychecks are issued on a biweekly basis.
- Grade or step changes: A within-grade increase or promotion can overlap with the annual raise.
For this reason, many employees calculate both the annual figure and the biweekly figure. This calculator includes frequency options so you can view the estimated annual amount, a monthly estimate, a biweekly estimate using 26 pay periods, or an hourly estimate based on 2,087 work hours in a year.
How to use this calculator correctly
To get the best estimate, follow these steps carefully:
- Look up your 2017 basic pay, not your total locality-adjusted salary.
- Select the locality pay area that applied to your duty station.
- Choose how you want the result displayed: annual, monthly, biweekly, or hourly.
- Click the calculate button.
- Review the output for estimated 2017 adjusted pay, estimated 2018 adjusted pay, dollar increase, and total percentage change.
If you accidentally enter your already adjusted 2017 salary as “basic pay,” your estimate will be too high because locality will be added a second time. That is one of the most common user mistakes when estimating federal pay raises online.
What about grade, step, and special pay systems?
This page focuses on General Schedule style calculations. If you are in a special salary rate, law enforcement pay plan, prevailing rate system, or another federal compensation system, the 2018 calculation may differ. The same caution applies if you changed grade or step at the beginning of 2018. In those situations, the official pay table for your occupation, agency, and location should be the final authority.
For standard GS employees, however, this calculation method is highly practical. It mirrors how pay tables are structured and gives you an estimate grounded in the two most important variables: the nationwide base increase and your geographic locality rate.
Official sources to verify your estimate
After using the calculator, you should confirm the final amount with official government sources. These references are especially useful if you need documentation for payroll questions, retirement planning, or employment verification:
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management: 2018 General Schedule Pay Tables
- OPM: 2018 Locality Pay Area Definitions
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Economic and wage data
Common questions about the 2018 raise
Was the 2018 federal pay raise 1.4% or 1.9%?
Both numbers are used, but they refer to different things. The 1.4% figure generally refers to the nationwide base GS increase. The 1.9% figure is the average overall increase once locality adjustments are factored in.
Why did employees in one city receive a different total increase than employees in another?
Because locality pay percentages differ by area. The same basic salary can produce a different adjusted salary depending on location.
Can I use my 2017 total salary instead of basic pay?
Not if you want an accurate locality calculation. Use 2017 basic pay first, then add locality separately.
Does this calculator show take-home pay?
No. It estimates gross salary before taxes and benefit deductions.
Bottom line
To calculate federal employee pay raise 2018 amounts properly, do not rely on a single headline percentage. Instead, begin with 2017 basic pay, apply the 1.4% base increase, and then apply the 2018 locality rate for your area. That produces a more realistic estimate of your total adjusted compensation. The calculator above automates that process, while the chart helps you visualize the change from 2017 to 2018. For final confirmation, always compare your estimate against the official OPM pay tables and locality guidance.