2018 GS-15 Pay in HOUSTON
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 31.74% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $105,123 on the base table to $138,489 in HOUSTON.
2018 GS-15 Pay in HOUSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $138,489 | $5,326.50 | $66.36 | +$33,366 |
| Step 2 | $143,105 | $5,504.04 | $68.57 | +$34,478 |
| Step 3 | $147,721 | $5,681.58 | $70.78 | +$35,590 |
| Step 4 | $152,338 | $5,859.15 | $72.99 | +$36,703 |
| Step 5 | $156,954 | $6,036.69 | $75.21 | +$37,815 |
| Step 6 | $161,570 | $6,214.23 | $77.42 | +$38,927 |
| Step 7 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$38,053 |
| Step 8 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$34,549 |
| Step 9 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$31,045 |
| Step 10 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$27,541 |
2018 GS-15 pay table for HOUSTON
Each step below already includes the 31.74% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $138,489 | $5,326.50 | $66.36 | +$33,366 |
| Step 2 | $143,105 | $5,504.04 | $68.57 | +$34,478 |
| Step 3 | $147,721 | $5,681.58 | $70.78 | +$35,590 |
| Step 4 | $152,338 | $5,859.15 | $72.99 | +$36,703 |
| Step 5 | $156,954 | $6,036.69 | $75.21 | +$37,815 |
| Step 6 | $161,570 | $6,214.23 | $77.42 | +$38,927 |
| Step 7 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$38,053 |
| Step 8 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$34,549 |
| Step 9 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$31,045 |
| Step 10 | $164,200 | $6,315.38 | $78.68 | +$27,541 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more HOUSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in HOUSTON: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2018, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 31.74% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in HOUSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $5,327 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,315. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2018 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-15 HOUSTON page.
Other grades in HOUSTON
GS-15 in HOUSTON questions
-
How much does a GS-15 make in HOUSTON?
In 2018, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $138,489 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $164,200. This is 31.74% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in HOUSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2018, it is 31.74%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $33,366 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in HOUSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $5,327 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.