An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$48,403 GS-9 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2015)
$62,920 GS-9 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2015)
+$6,004 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-9 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 14.16% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $48,403 $1,861.65 $23.19 +$6,004
Step 2 $50,016 $1,923.69 $23.97 +$6,204
Step 3 $51,629 $1,985.73 $24.74 +$6,404
Step 4 $53,242 $2,047.77 $25.51 +$6,604
Step 5 $54,855 $2,109.81 $26.28 +$6,804
Step 6 $56,468 $2,171.85 $27.06 +$7,004
Step 7 $58,081 $2,233.88 $27.83 +$7,204
Step 8 $59,694 $2,295.92 $28.60 +$7,404
Step 9 $61,307 $2,357.96 $29.38 +$7,604
Step 10 $62,920 $2,420.00 $30.15 +$7,804
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $42,399
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 1 $48,403
  • Locality add-on +$6,004
  • Adjustment percent 14.16%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $55,116
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 10 $62,920

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-9 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2015, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 14.16% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,862 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,420. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-9 Rest of U.S. page.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-9 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2015, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $48,403 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $62,920. This is 14.16% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2015, it is 14.16%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,004 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,862 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.