Reviewed by Jonathan Teplitsky · Updated June 2026
Pay, Benefits, and Retirement for Federal Civilian Employees
Federal civilian employees — whether on the General Schedule, Senior Executive Service, or the Law Enforcement Officer schedule — earn compensation and retirement benefits that differ significantly from private-sector jobs. The guides below cover every major component: pay tables, health and life insurance, and the three-legged retirement stool of the FERS Basic Annuity, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan.
GS Pay Scale and Special Pay Schedules
Most federal employees are paid on the General Schedule (GS), a 15-grade, 10-step table. Locality pay adds 17% to 44% on top of base pay depending on your duty location. Law Enforcement Officers on the GL schedule receive an additional 25% LEAP supplement that brings entry-level federal LEO pay well above the equivalent GS rate. The Senior Executive Service uses an open-range pay band bounded by Executive Level IV (minimum) and Executive Level II or III (maximum).
Use the guides in this section to find your 2026 base pay, locality adjustment, and total compensation estimate for your grade and step.
FEHB, FEDVIP, FEGLI, and Leave
The Federal Employees Health Benefits program offers over 150 plan options; the government covers about 72% of the premium. FEDVIP adds dental and vision coverage; FEGLI provides group life insurance. Federal employees also accrue generous annual and sick leave — 13 to 26 days per year based on years of service.
FERS Retirement and TSP
FERS retirement is a three-part system: the Basic Annuity (1% or 1.1% × high-3 average salary × years of service), Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan with up to 5% agency match. Veterans in federal jobs can buy back their active-duty time toward the pension for about 3% of military basic pay — a break-even of 2–4 years that most federal HR offices fail to mention proactively.
Use the Federal Retirement hub for deeper FERS, CSRS, and TSP guides.