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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$55,289 GS-9 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2016)
$71,870 GS-9 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2016)
+$12,466 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2016 GS-9 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 29.11% 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 $55,289 $2,126.50 $26.49 +$12,466
Step 2 $57,131 $2,197.35 $27.37 +$12,881
Step 3 $58,974 $2,268.23 $28.26 +$13,297
Step 4 $60,816 $2,339.08 $29.14 +$13,712
Step 5 $62,658 $2,409.92 $30.02 +$14,127
Step 6 $64,501 $2,480.81 $30.91 +$14,543
Step 7 $66,343 $2,551.65 $31.79 +$14,958
Step 8 $68,186 $2,622.54 $32.67 +$15,374
Step 9 $70,028 $2,693.38 $33.55 +$15,789
Step 10 $71,870 $2,764.23 $34.44 +$16,204
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $42,823
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 1 $55,289
  • Locality add-on +$12,466
  • Adjustment percent 29.11%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $55,666
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 10 $71,870

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 HOUSTON: what to expect

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

For 2016, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 29.11% 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 HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,127 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,764. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2016 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-9 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-9 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2016, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $55,289 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $71,870. This is 29.11% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2016, it is 29.11%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,466 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,127 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.