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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,598 GS-9 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2018)
$65,778 GS-9 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2018)
+$6,741 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-9 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.37% 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 $50,598 $1,946.08 $24.24 +$6,741
Step 2 $52,285 $2,010.96 $25.05 +$6,966
Step 3 $53,971 $2,075.81 $25.86 +$7,190
Step 4 $55,658 $2,140.69 $26.67 +$7,415
Step 5 $57,345 $2,205.58 $27.48 +$7,640
Step 6 $59,031 $2,270.42 $28.29 +$7,864
Step 7 $60,718 $2,335.31 $29.09 +$8,089
Step 8 $62,405 $2,400.19 $29.90 +$8,314
Step 9 $64,091 $2,465.04 $30.71 +$8,538
Step 10 $65,778 $2,529.92 $31.52 +$8,763
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $43,857
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 1 $50,598
  • Locality add-on +$6,741
  • Adjustment percent 15.37%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $57,015
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 10 $65,778

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 Rest of U.S.: what to expect

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

For 2018, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.37% 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 Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,946 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,530. 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 Rest of U.S. page.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-9 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2018, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $50,598 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,778. This is 15.37% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2018, it is 15.37%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,741 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,946 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.