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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,435 GS-9 Step 1 in Washington DC (2016)
$69,460 GS-9 Step 10 in Washington DC (2016)
+$10,612 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2016 GS-9 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 24.78% 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 $53,435 $2,055.19 $25.60 +$10,612
Step 2 $55,215 $2,123.65 $26.46 +$10,965
Step 3 $56,996 $2,192.15 $27.31 +$11,319
Step 4 $58,776 $2,260.62 $28.16 +$11,672
Step 5 $60,557 $2,329.12 $29.02 +$12,026
Step 6 $62,338 $2,397.62 $29.87 +$12,380
Step 7 $64,118 $2,466.08 $30.72 +$12,733
Step 8 $65,899 $2,534.58 $31.58 +$13,087
Step 9 $67,679 $2,603.04 $32.43 +$13,440
Step 10 $69,460 $2,671.54 $33.28 +$13,794
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $42,823
  • Washington DC GS-9 Step 1 $53,435
  • Locality add-on +$10,612
  • Adjustment percent 24.78%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $55,666
  • Washington DC GS-9 Step 10 $69,460

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 Washington DC: what to expect

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

For 2016, the Washington DC pay area adds a 24.78% 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 Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,055 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,672. 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 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-9 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Washington DC?
    In 2016, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $53,435 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $69,460. This is 24.78% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2016, it is 24.78%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,612 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,055 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.