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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$56,646 GS-9 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2017)
$73,643 GS-9 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2017)
+$13,395 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2017 GS-9 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 30.97% 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 $56,646 $2,178.69 $27.14 +$13,395
Step 2 $58,534 $2,251.31 $28.05 +$13,841
Step 3 $60,423 $2,323.96 $28.95 +$14,288
Step 4 $62,312 $2,396.62 $29.86 +$14,735
Step 5 $64,200 $2,469.23 $30.76 +$15,181
Step 6 $66,089 $2,541.88 $31.67 +$15,628
Step 7 $67,977 $2,614.50 $32.57 +$16,074
Step 8 $69,866 $2,687.15 $33.48 +$16,521
Step 9 $71,755 $2,759.81 $34.38 +$16,968
Step 10 $73,643 $2,832.42 $35.29 +$17,414
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $43,251
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 1 $56,646
  • Locality add-on +$13,395
  • Adjustment percent 30.97%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $56,229
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 10 $73,643

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 2017, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 30.97% 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 $2,179 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,832. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2017 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 2017, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $56,646 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $73,643. This is 30.97% 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 2017, it is 30.97%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,395 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 $2,179 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.