Federal Pay Raise 2027: Freeze, LEO 3.8% & What's Next

Quick answer

There is no federal pay raise in 2027 for most civilian employees under the President's alternative pay plan: General Schedule base and locality pay stay at 2026 rates. Eligible federal law enforcement personnel get 3.8%, and military members get 5% to 7%. Congress could still override the freeze in a spending deal before or after January.

Key takeaways

The White House alternative pay plan sets the 2027 pay adjustment for most civilian federal employees at zero, freezing both base and locality pay at 2026 levels.
Eligible federal law enforcement personnel are slated for a 3.8% raise in January 2027, with the Office of Personnel Management deciding which positions qualify.
Democrats in Congress are pushing a 4.1% raise through the FAIR Act and hope to attach it to a spending bill before the current funding measure expires on December 11.
Nothing is final until the President signs the annual pay executive order, which usually happens in December.
FEHB enrollees will pay 10.9% more toward premiums on average in 2027, so a frozen salary can mean lower take-home pay for many workers.

Last updated: October 10, 2026. If you were hoping for a federal pay raise 2027 bump in your January paycheck, the current plan gives most civilian federal employees nothing. Under the alternative pay plan the President sent to Congress in late August, General Schedule (GS) base pay and locality pay are set to stay exactly where they are in 2026. Two groups are carved out: eligible federal law enforcement officers and the military. Below we explain who gets what, what your 2027 salary will likely look like, and what could still change before the new year.

Is there a federal pay raise in 2027?

For most civilian federal workers, no. The President's alternative pay plan letter, dated August 26, 2026, set the 2027 civilian pay adjustment at zero, so both the across-the-board increase and locality pay remain at 2026 rates.

The letter argued the freeze will keep spending in check without hurting the government's ability to hire and keep qualified staff. Federal unions disagree. The Federal Managers Association warned that a freeze would lower morale and make recruitment and retention harder.

It is worth knowing why this letter matters so much. Under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA), the President must send an alternative plan by September 1 each year, or a much larger formula-based raise kicks in automatically. According to the letter, the formula would otherwise have produced a 3.1% across-the-board increase plus locality increases averaging 20.6%. In most years, the alternative plan ends up setting the raise employees actually receive.

Who still gets a raise in 2027?

Three groups are set to see higher pay in January even though most civilians will not. The plan lists them as follows:

Federal law enforcement personnel: a 3.8% increase for eligible positions, meant to help recruit and retain staff in critical law enforcement roles.
Active-duty military: a raise of 5% to 7%, depending on rank and experience.
Other uniformed services outside the Armed Forces: a 3.6% increase.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has been told to decide exactly which law enforcement jobs qualify. OPM had not announced the covered categories in the latest reports we reviewed. For 2026, OPM published special rate tables for covered law enforcement positions in early January after reviewing eligible categories in the preceding months. Because this raise runs through OPM's special rate authority rather than the regular GS tables, the standard 2027 GS tables will not show it.

What will the 2027 GS pay scale look like?

If the freeze holds, the 2027 GS pay scale will simply repeat the 2026 tables, so the rate for each grade and step stays the same next year.

Here are sample 2026 GS base pay rates, before locality pay, that would carry over into 2027 under the freeze:

GS-5, Step 1: $34,799
GS-7, Step 1: $43,106
GS-9, Step 1: $52,727
GS-11, Step 1: $63,795
GS-12, Step 1: $76,463
GS-13, Step 1: $90,925
GS-14, Step 1: $107,446
GS-15, Step 10: $164,301

Do locality pay rates change in 2027?

No. Locality percentages are frozen too, and no new locality pay areas are expected. The President's Pay Agent declined in its December 2025 report to add new areas or expand existing ones. Current locality rates in major metro areas include:

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California: 46.34%
New York-Newark: 37.95%
Los Angeles-Long Beach, California: 36.47%
Houston-The Woodlands, Texas: 35.00%
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington: 33.94%
Seattle-Tacoma, Washington: 31.57%
Chicago-Naperville, Illinois: 30.86%
Denver-Aurora, Colorado: 30.52%
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas: 27.26%
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 24.67%
Atlanta-Athens-Clarke County-Sandy Springs, Georgia: 23.79%
Rest of U.S.: 17.06%

To estimate your 2027 salary, multiply your base pay by one plus your locality rate. For example, a GS-12, Step 1 employee in the Washington, D.C. area earns roughly $76,463 x 1.3394, or about $102,400, and that figure would not change in 2027 under the freeze.

Can Congress still override the 2027 pay freeze?

Yes, but the odds of a federal pay raise 2027 deal for civilians look slim right now. Congress can set a different raise through appropriations, and supporters are aiming for the next round of spending talks.

Here is where things stand:

On September 15, 110 lawmakers signed a letter urging congressional leaders to reject the freeze. It was led by Rep. James Walkinshaw of Virginia, Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii.
Democrats back the FAIR Act, which would give civilian employees a 4.1% raise. At a September 23 press conference, they said that at minimum all civilians should get 3.8% to match law enforcement.
During the House Appropriations Committee markup, an amendment adding a 3.1% civilian raise failed 28-32, and the spending bill that advanced has no civilian raise. The Senate has not taken up its version.
A continuing resolution funds the government through December 11. Lawmakers see the post-election negotiations before that deadline as the best remaining chance.

There is a precedent. In February 2019, after a 35-day partial shutdown, Congress overrode a pay freeze and gave civilian employees a 1.9% raise, paid back to the first full pay period in January. Advocates note that a raise approved in early 2027 could also be made retroactive.

When will the federal pay raise 2027 decision be final?

The federal pay raise 2027 answer will be locked in when the President signs the annual pay executive order, usually in December. That order publishes the official pay tables for the new year.

Key dates to watch:

November 9 to December 14, 2026: Federal Benefits Open Season for health, dental, vision and flexible spending accounts.
December 11, 2026: the current continuing resolution expires, forcing a new spending decision.
December 2026: the expected pay executive order with final 2027 rates.
January 2027: the law enforcement and military raises are scheduled to begin, while most civilian rates stay frozen unless Congress acts.

How the freeze and higher FEHB premiums hit your paycheck

A flat salary combined with higher health premiums means many federal employees will take home less in 2027. OPM says FEHB enrollees will pay 10.9% more toward premiums on average in plan year 2027, after a 12.3% rise in 2026. Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) enrollees face an 8.2% average increase.

OPM links the increases to rising prices and use of hospital, physician, outpatient and surgical care, growth in behavioral and mental health care, and higher prescription drug spending, particularly on GLP-1s and specialty drugs. Averages hide big differences between plans, so shopping during Open Season can soften the blow.

What federal employees should do now

You cannot change the pay decision, but you can protect your budget. Practical steps:

Plan on 2026 pay for 2027. Build your household budget on your current salary, and treat any raise Congress passes as a bonus.
Compare health plans during Open Season. Your current plan renews automatically if you do nothing, even if its premium jumps.
Re-enroll in FSAFEDS. Flexible spending accounts do not roll over automatically; you must sign up again each year. A new FSAFEDS debit card option arrives for 2027.
Have documents ready if adding family. Anyone adding a family member to FEHB or PSHB during Open Season must now submit proof of eligibility.
Review plan quality, not just price. OPM advises enrollees to weigh coverage and plan quality alongside premium changes when choosing a plan.
Law enforcement staff: watch for OPM's list of covered positions and its special rate tables; for 2026 these arrived in early January.

Frequently asked questions

Will federal employees get a raise in 2027?

Most civilian federal employees will not, under the current plan. The President's alternative pay plan freezes General Schedule base and locality pay at 2026 rates. Eligible law enforcement personnel are slated for 3.8%, and military members for 5% to 7%.

Is the 2027 federal pay freeze final?

Not yet. Pay rates become official when the President signs the annual pay executive order, usually in December. Congress can still set a different raise through a spending bill, but the House bill that advanced includes no civilian raise.

Which law enforcement officers get the 3.8% raise in 2027?

OPM decides which positions qualify, and the latest reports we reviewed said it had not yet announced the covered categories. For 2026, OPM released special rate tables for covered law enforcement positions in early January.

What would the 2027 federal pay raise have been without the alternative plan?

According to the alternative pay plan letter, the automatic formula under FEPCA would have produced a 3.1% across-the-board increase plus locality increases averaging 20.6%. Presidents send an alternative plan by September 1 to prevent that formula from taking effect.

What is the FAIR Act 4.1% raise?

The FAIR Act is a bill backed by congressional Democrats that would give civilian federal employees a 4.1% raise. It has been introduced in past years without passing, and supporters hope to attach it to a 2027 spending package.

How much are FEHB premiums going up in 2027?

OPM says FEHB enrollees will pay 10.9% more toward premiums on average in 2027. PSHB enrollees face an average 8.2% increase. Individual plans vary, so compare options during Open Season from November 9 to December 14, 2026.

Could a 2027 federal pay raise be retroactive?

Yes, it is possible. In 2019, Congress overrode a pay freeze in a February spending deal and paid a 1.9% raise retroactive to the first full pay period of January. A similar deal in early 2027 could work the same way.

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Sources

This article was compiled from the sources listed above using AI-assisted writing and automated fact-checking. Pay figures can change; check OPM.gov for official 2027 pay tables once published.

Federal Pay Raise 2027: Pay Freeze, 3.8% LEO Raise Explained