GS Step Increases: When You Get a Raise and How Much
Within-grade increases (WGIs), commonly called step increases, are automatic pay raises that move you from one step to the next within your GS grade. They are governed by 5 U.S.C. §5335 and 5 CFR Part 531, Subpart D. Each GS grade has 10 steps, and each step is worth approximately 3% of base pay.
WGI Waiting Periods
| Step Advancement | Waiting Period | Cumulative Time from Step 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Step 1 → Step 2 | 52 weeks (1 year) | 1 year |
| Step 2 → Step 3 | 52 weeks (1 year) | 2 years |
| Step 3 → Step 4 | 52 weeks (1 year) | 3 years |
| Step 4 → Step 5 | 104 weeks (2 years) | 5 years |
| Step 5 → Step 6 | 104 weeks (2 years) | 7 years |
| Step 6 → Step 7 | 104 weeks (2 years) | 9 years |
| Step 7 → Step 8 | 156 weeks (3 years) | 12 years |
| Step 8 → Step 9 | 156 weeks (3 years) | 15 years |
| Step 9 → Step 10 | 156 weeks (3 years) | 18 years |
It takes 18 years of continuous acceptable service to go from Step 1 to Step 10 within the same grade. Source: OPM WGI Fact Sheet; 5 CFR 531.405.
Requirements for a Step Increase
To receive a WGI, you must meet three legally required conditions under 5 U.S.C. §5335:
1. Acceptable performance: Your most recent performance rating of record must be at least Level 3 ("Fully Successful" or equivalent). WGI denials are rare—MSPB data shows only about 1 in 1,000 WGIs are denied nationwide.
2. Completed waiting period: You must serve the required number of weeks in creditable service at your current step.
3. No equivalent increase: You must not have received another increase in basic pay (such as a promotion) that serves as an equivalent increase during the waiting period (5 CFR 531.407).
Dollar Impact by Grade
Each within-grade step increase is a fixed dollar amount for all employees in that grade. For example, in the 2026 base GS table: a GS-7 step increase is $1,271, a GS-12 step increase is $2,895, and a GS-15 step increase is $3,854. After locality adjustment, these amounts increase proportionally.
Quality Step Increases (QSI)
A QSI is an additional step increase awarded for outstanding performance, authorized by 5 U.S.C. §5336. Unlike a WGI, a QSI requires the highest rating available under your agency's appraisal system. A QSI does not restart your WGI waiting period clock unless it places you at Step 4 or Step 7 (the boundaries where waiting periods lengthen).
Sources & Legal Citations
Within-Grade Increases: 5 U.S.C. §5335; 5 CFR Part 531, Subpart D
Waiting Periods: 5 CFR 531.405
Quality Step Increases: 5 U.S.C. §5336
OPM Fact Sheet: WGI Fact Sheet
Step Increases by Grade: Real Dollar Amounts
The within-grade increase amount is a fixed dollar figure for each GS grade in the base pay table. These amounts are published by OPM and increase proportionally with locality adjustments. Here are the 2026 base within-grade amounts for selected grades:
GS-5: $1,160 per step. GS-7: $1,271 per step. GS-9: $1,574 per step. GS-11: $1,854 per step. GS-12: $2,895 per step. GS-13: $3,445 per step. GS-14: $4,074 per step. GS-15: $3,854 per step (note: the GS-15 WGI is smaller than GS-14 because the grade structure narrows at the top).
With DC locality (33.94%), a GS-12 step increase is worth approximately $3,877 annually, or about $149 per biweekly paycheck before taxes. After taxes (at a ~22% marginal rate), the take-home impact is roughly $116 per paycheck, or about $3,024 per year.
Step Increases vs. Promotions
Promotions to a higher grade provide larger pay increases than step increases within a grade. A promotion follows the "two-step rule" (5 CFR 531.214): your pay in the new grade is set at the step that is at least two steps above your current rate. For example, a GS-11 Step 5 promoting to GS-12 would be placed at the GS-12 step where the rate equals or exceeds their GS-11 Step 7 rate.
In practice, a promotion from GS-11 to GS-12 typically provides a 10-15% pay increase, while a step increase within GS-12 provides approximately 3%. Employees on career ladders (e.g., GS-5/7/9/11/12) receive annual promotions during their developmental period, which are far more valuable than step increases.
Impact on Retirement
Step increases directly affect your retirement in two ways. First, they increase your basic pay, which raises your high-3 average salary for pension calculations. Second, they increase your TSP contributions (if you contribute a percentage) and your agency match in dollar terms. A single step increase at GS-12 (approximately $3,877 in DC) adds roughly $38.77 per year to your FERS pension for each year it is in your high-3 period. Over 20+ years of retirement, that one step increase generates thousands in additional pension income.
Denied Step Increases and Reconsideration
If your WGI is denied, your supervisor must provide a written explanation citing specific performance deficiencies. You have the right to request reconsideration within 15 days. The agency must reconsider your performance at least every 52 weeks after a denial. When you eventually achieve "Fully Successful" performance, the WGI is granted effective the first day of the next pay period—but you do not receive back pay for the period of denial. Authority: 5 U.S.C. §5335(c); 5 CFR 531.409-531.411.
Non-Pay Status and WGI Waiting Periods
Periods of non-pay status (LWOP) can affect your WGI waiting period. For each waiting period, a limited amount of non-pay status is creditable: up to 2 weeks for a 52-week waiting period, up to 4 weeks for a 104-week period, and up to 6 weeks for a 156-week period. Non-pay status in excess of these amounts extends the waiting period by the excess amount. Exceptions exist for absence due to compensable injury or military duty, which are fully creditable regardless of duration. Source: 5 CFR 531.406.
Step Increases and Federal Workforce Changes
Recent OPM performance management reforms (2025) now require supervisors to certify that an employee "is qualifying" before approving any WGI and to document justifications for high ratings. Supervisors are also rated on how well they "hold employees accountable." While WGI denials remain rare, these policy changes may increase scrutiny of performance ratings, particularly in agencies undergoing restructuring or reduction-in-force activities.
The Value of Step 10
Reaching Step 10 is a significant career milestone, representing the maximum pay within your grade. After Step 10, the only ways to increase your base pay (absent annual government-wide raises) are promotion to a higher grade or a Quality Step Increase that pushes you to Step 10 of a higher grade via promotion. For employees at Step 10 who are not eligible for promotion, annual pay raises and locality adjustments become the sole mechanisms for salary growth.
For GS-12 Step 10 in DC, annual salary is $133,139. For GS-15 Step 10 in DC, it is $197,200 (at the pay cap). The difference between Step 1 and Step 10 is substantial: approximately 30% for most grades, accumulated over 18 years of acceptable service. Each step increase, while individually modest, compounds into a significant salary difference over a full career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to go from Step 1 to Step 10?
18 years of continuous acceptable service. Steps 1-4 require 1-year waits each (3 years total), Steps 4-7 require 2-year waits each (6 years), and Steps 7-10 require 3-year waits each (9 years). Authority: 5 CFR 531.405.
Can my step increase be denied?
Yes, but it is rare. Your supervisor can deny a WGI if your performance is below the acceptable level of competence (below Level 3 / Fully Successful). MSPB data shows approximately 1 in 1,000 WGIs are denied. If denied, the agency must reconsider at least every 52 weeks. Authority: 5 U.S.C. §5335(c).
What is a Quality Step Increase (QSI)?
A QSI is an extra step increase awarded for outstanding performance (5 U.S.C. §5336). It requires the highest available rating. A QSI does not restart your regular WGI clock unless it moves you to Step 4 or Step 7, where the waiting period changes length.
How much is each step increase worth?
Each step is approximately 3% of base pay for that grade. The exact dollar amount is fixed within a grade (it is the within-grade amount shown on OPM pay tables). After locality adjustment, the dollar value increases proportionally.
Does a promotion reset my step increase waiting period?
A promotion to a higher grade starts a new waiting period for the next step in your new grade. Your step in the new grade is determined by the two-step promotion rule (5 CFR 531.214), which ensures you receive at least a two-step equivalent pay increase.