Federal Workers Pay Hike in 2026: The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has shared the first details about the pay raise for federal workers in 2026. This increase is part of the government’s effort to help employees keep up with rising living costs. The raise is called a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, and it helps workers’ salaries stay meaningful even as prices go up across the country.
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Most federal workers will get a 1% salary increase starting January 2026. While 1% might sound small, it comes during a time when inflation is affecting many households.
Special Rates for Certain Workers
Not every worker will get the same 1% increase. Some federal employees, like law enforcement officers, will receive higher special rates in 2026 because of the dangerous nature of their work. The OPM said that these “Special Rate Tables” are designed to match salaries with local living costs and keep workers in areas where jobs are in high demand.
For example, agents from the FBI, the Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies could see an extra raise beyond the standard 1% because their work is risky and critical. This helps make sure these positions stay attractive even in expensive regions.
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COLA vs General Pay Increase
It is important to know the difference between COLA and the general pay raise. The COLA is mainly for retired and pensioned workers and is calculated based on inflation. Its purpose is to protect retirees’ buying power so they can keep up with prices.
The general pay increase applies to active federal employees. For 2026, the 1% raise is part of this general adjustment. The COLA for retirees will be announced later by the Social Security Administration, depending on changes in the consumer price index.
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