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Employee and Retiree Service Center → Employees → Pay and schedule information → Salary-adjustments

Salary Increases Effective July 1, 2026

Approved agreements between the Board of Education and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) provide for salary increases for MCPS employees effective July 1, 2026. The increases include—

  • a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for MCEA, SEIU, MCAAP, and MCBOA permanent employees;
  • step increases for eligible employees; and
  • longevity increases for eligible SEIU employees.

This page will walk you through some of the negotiated changes and help you determine how you will be impacted.

How does this apply to you?

First, determine your current salary step.

  1. Log in to MCPS Hub+;
  2. From the homepage, select the Me tab, followed by Employment Info found in the column at left.
  3. Scroll down as needed to find your current salary step.

Next, review your union-specific information.

SEIU employees will receive—

  • a 3.25 percent COLA effective July 1, 2026;
  • a salary step adjustment* if hired prior to February 1, 2026, unless on unpaid leave for five months or more during fiscal year (FY) 2025, or currently at the top step of their pay grade; and

  • a longevity increase for those who complete 10, 14, 18, or 22 years of service during FY 2027.

MCEA employees will receive—

  • a 3.25 percent COLA effective July 1, 2026; and
  • a salary step increase if hired prior to February 1, 2026, unless off scale**, on unpaid leave for five months or more during FY 2026, or currently at the top step of their pay grade.

MCAAP/MCBOA employees will receive—

  • a 3.25 percent COLA effective July 1, 2026; and
  • a salary step increase if hired prior to February 1, 2026, unless on unpaid leave for five months or more during FY 2026, or currently at the top step of their pay grade.

Now, find out if you are eligible for a Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 step adjustment.

You will receive a step adjustment if—

  • You were hired prior to February 1, 2026, AND
  • You were NOT on unpaid leave for five months or more in FY 2026, AND
  • Your step is not off scale (steps 50, 55, 60 and 65 for MCEA), AND
  • You are not on a top step (17 for SEIU, 25 for MCEA).

Compare the outcome with the Salary Schedules (coming soon).

Now that you know your current step and what you will receive, refer to the FY 2027 Salary Schedules (effective July 1, 2026) to see exactly how that translates to dollars and cents. Full details on the Salary Schedules, including appropriate supplements, are available on the Salary Schedules web page. 

What to expect next

Verify the increase you have received.
Your new salary information, including your salary/hourly rate of pay and prorated annual salary, will be available on Hub+ beginning July 1, 2026. To verify your salary, on or after July 1, 2026, log in to Hub+. From the homepage, select the Me tab, followed by the Salary Information Notice tile.

Look for a full salary increase in your July 24, 2026, paycheck.
Pay increases that result from the FY 2027 COLA and step increases take effect on July 1, 2026. Remember: MCPS employees are paid two weeks after the last day of a pay period. This means that you will receive your FY 2027 step increase and/or COLA beginning with your July 24, 2026, paycheck.

For more information regarding the 2027 budget and negotiated agreements, visit the Association Relations web page.

*For SEIU, some step adjustments do not include a salary increase but move the employee a step toward an increase.

**MCEA employees who are off scale—on steps 50, 55, 60 and 65 due to a 2 percent salary increase during FY 2013 or FY 2014—will receive the 3.25 percent COLA but will not receive a step increase on July 1, 2026.