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The Senior Executive Service (SES) is the pay system for top federal career leaders, just below presidential appointees. It is a single open pay range with no locality pay and no steps — salary is set by performance within the range.
There is one SES pay range, fixed at the bottom and top by law. The floor is 120% of GS-15 Step 1 ($151,661 for 2026). The ceiling depends on whether the employing agency has an SES performance-appraisal system that OPM has certifiedunder 5 U.S.C. 5307(d): without certification the cap is Executive Schedule Level III ($209,600); with it, the cap rises to Level II ($228,000). Total annual compensation is separately capped — at Level I ($253,100) for non-certified agencies, higher (up to the Vice President's salary) for certified ones.
The SES caps are defined as specific Executive Schedule levels, so they move whenever the Executive Schedule is adjusted.
| Executive Schedule | 2026 rate | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Level I | $253,100 | SES aggregate pay limit (standard) |
| Level II | $228,000 | SES basic-pay cap — certified appraisal system |
| Level III | $209,600 | SES basic-pay cap — non-certified |
| Level IV | $197,200 | GS locality-pay cap |
| Level V | $184,900 | — |
Comparing federal pay systems? See the GS Pay Calculator, the WG Pay Calculator, and federal jobs for veterans. Your military time can count toward federal retirement and leave — veterans' preference applies to hiring, not to SES pay.