What is the Federal Wage System (WG pay)?

The Federal Wage System (FWS) sets hourly pay for federal blue-collar / trade, craft, and labor jobs — the WG (nonsupervisory), WL (leader), and WS (supervisor) schedules. Unlike the salaried General Schedule, FWS pay is set locally by wage area based on private-sector wage surveys, so the same grade pays different amounts in different areas.

How is WG pay different from GS pay?

GS is the salaried white-collar schedule (annual salary by grade, step, and locality). WG is the hourly blue-collar schedule (trades, maintenance, labor) set by local wage area. Many veterans coming from maintenance, logistics, or equipment jobs map to WG roles; those from administrative or technical roles map to GS.

How many WG wage areas are there?

This tool covers 20 Federal Wage System wage areas with verified 2026 schedules. Pick your area for the full WG, WL, and WS rate tables by grade and step, or use the interactive calculator.

2026 WG Pay Scale by Wage Area

The Federal Wage System sets hourly pay for federal trade, craft, and labor jobs by local wage area. Pick your area for the full 2026 WG, WL, and WS rate tables by grade and step, or browse by grade below.

🇺🇸 Built by a veteran, for veterans·100% free — no login, no upsell·Reviewed July 2026

Sources: DCPAS — Federal Wage System wage schedules, OPM — Federal Wage System, Interactive WG pay calculator

Or browse by grade

WG-1 WG-2 WG-3 WG-4 WG-5 WG-6 WG-7 WG-8 WG-9 WG-10 WG-11 WG-12 WG-13 WG-14 WG-15

Want a specific grade, step, and area at once? Use the interactive WG pay calculator. Looking for salaried (white-collar) federal pay instead? See the 2026 GS pay scale by locality and military rank → GS grade.

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2026 WG Pay Scale by Wage Area

Browse by wage area (20)

Or browse by grade

More free tools

2026 WG Pay Scale by Wage Area

Browse by wage area (20)

Or browse by grade

More free tools