Locality relates to the region where the employee works. This factor adjusts the base rate of pay for the cost of living in a geographic area. While each position is assigned to a specific grade, and each employee is assigned to a step within that grade, the pay rate will vary by location.

Do all GS jobs get locality pay?

Employees in GS positions in the continental United States also receive locality pay (there are 32 defined locality pay areas). ... Special rates are higher rates of pay than GS and locality rates. Some agencies have statutory authority to administer their own pay systems.

How is government locality pay determined?

Determining a Locality Rate

To determine an employee's locality rate, increase the employee's "scheduled annual rate of pay" by the locality pay percentage authorized by the President for the locality pay area in which the employee's official worksite is located. Locality pay areas are defined in 5 CFR 531.603.