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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$30,359 GS-3 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2018)
$39,465 GS-3 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2018)
+$7,314 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-3 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-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $30,359 $1,167.65 $14.55 +$7,314
Step 2 $31,371 $1,206.58 $15.03 +$7,558
Step 3 $32,383 $1,245.50 $15.52 +$7,802
Step 4 $33,395 $1,284.42 $16.00 +$8,046
Step 5 $34,407 $1,323.35 $16.49 +$8,290
Step 6 $35,418 $1,362.23 $16.97 +$8,533
Step 7 $36,430 $1,401.15 $17.46 +$8,777
Step 8 $37,442 $1,440.08 $17.94 +$9,021
Step 9 $38,454 $1,479.00 $18.43 +$9,265
Step 10 $39,465 $1,517.88 $18.91 +$9,508
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $23,045
  • HOUSTON GS-3 Step 1 $30,359
  • Locality add-on +$7,314
  • Adjustment percent 31.74%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $29,957
  • HOUSTON GS-3 Step 10 $39,465

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-3 in HOUSTON: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2018, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 31.74% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,168 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,518. 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-3 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-3 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2018, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $30,359 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $39,465. This is 31.74% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 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-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,314 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,168 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.