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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,777 GS-9 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2018)
$75,112 GS-9 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2018)
+$13,920 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $57,777 $2,222.19 $27.68 +$13,920
Step 2 $59,703 $2,296.27 $28.61 +$14,384
Step 3 $61,629 $2,370.35 $29.53 +$14,848
Step 4 $63,555 $2,444.42 $30.45 +$15,312
Step 5 $65,481 $2,518.50 $31.38 +$15,776
Step 6 $67,407 $2,592.58 $32.30 +$16,240
Step 7 $69,333 $2,666.65 $33.22 +$16,704
Step 8 $71,259 $2,740.73 $34.14 +$17,168
Step 9 $73,186 $2,814.85 $35.07 +$17,633
Step 10 $75,112 $2,888.92 $35.99 +$18,097
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $43,857
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 1 $57,777
  • Locality add-on +$13,920
  • Adjustment percent 31.74%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $57,015
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 10 $75,112

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 2018, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 31.74% 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 $2,222 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,889. 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-9 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-9 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2018, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $57,777 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,112. This is 31.74% 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 2018, it is 31.74%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,920 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 $2,222 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.