AD vs GS Pay Scale: 2026 Federal Attorney Salaries Compared
Short answer: Most federal attorneys are paid on the General Schedule (GS), which rose 1% in January 2026 with locality rates held at 2025 levels (OPM memo). AUSAs are paid on DOJ's Administratively Determined (AD) plan, which sets grade by years of experience and ties raises to performance (DOJ). In D.C., a GS-13 step 1 attorney earns $121,785 in 2026 (OPM).
Fast facts
- Locality: D.C. 33.94%, Rest of U.S. 17.06% (OPM) (OPM).
- Pay cap: GS-15 step 10 in D.C. is capped at $197,200 (Executive Schedule level IV) (OPM).
- AD grades: AD-21 (0-2 years) to AD-29 (9+ years) (DOJ AD chart, 2025).
- AD cap (2025): total pay with locality capped at $195,100 (DOJ AD chart, 2025).
- Effective date: 2026 GS rates took effect Jan. 11, 2026 (OPM memo).
- GS-11: D.C. $85,447 to $111,087; Rest of U.S. $74,678 to $97,087
- GS-12: D.C. $102,415 to $133,142; Rest of U.S. $89,508 to $116,362
- GS-13: D.C. $121,785 to $158,322; Rest of U.S. $106,437 to $138,370
- GS-14: D.C. $143,913 to $187,093; Rest of U.S. $125,776 to $163,514
- GS-15: D.C. $169,279 to $197,200 (capped); Rest of U.S. $147,945 to $192,331
2025 AD chart for AUSAs (before locality)
- AD-21, 0-2 years: $63,163 to $107,376
- AD-23, 3-4 years: $67,863 to $115,369
- AD-25, 5 years: $72,918 to $123,959
- AD-26, 6 years: $78,346 to $133,189
- AD-27, 7 years: $84,181 to $143,107
- AD-28, 8 years: $90,449 to $153,761
- AD-29, 9+ years: $97,181 to $165,209
How AD differs from GS
- AD grade depends on full years of attorney experience, and offices can start you anywhere between the minimum and the Q4 rate (DOJ).
- Promotions are reviewed yearly based on performance and experience (DOJ).
- Attorneys coming from other federal pay plans may start above the recruitment range (DOJ).
- IRS Chief Counsel J.D. hires: GS-11 step 8 (IRS). OCC honors: about $131,000 to $159,000 in D.C. (OCC).
- Supreme Court Fellows: GS-13 step 1 (guide). Federal clerks: JSP scale (clerk salary guide).
- Military: 2026 monthly basic pay O-1 $4,150.20, O-2 $4,782.00, O-3 $5,534.10 at two years or less (DFAS).
- Public interest medians (2023): legal aid guide.
- AD vs GS Payscale
- AD Pay Scale
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- AUSA/USAO hiring
- Assistant federal public defender salary?
Q: Is AD pay higher than GS?
It depends on grade, experience and locality; AD tables exclude locality, which is added on top up to the cap (DOJ).
Q: What does a new federal attorney make in D.C.?
GS-11 step 1 is $85,447 and GS-12 step 1 is $102,415 in 2026 (OPM).
Q: Did federal pay go up in 2026?
Yes, 1% across the board, with locality rates frozen at 2025 levels (OPM).
Related guides
Last verified: September 26, 2026, against the official agency, court and program pages linked in this guide (older or secondary sources are labeled). Hiring status changes often, so confirm on the court or chambers page before you apply. Spot an error? Reply in the linked discussion thread or PM a moderator.
