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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$101,641 GS-13 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2019)
$132,130 GS-13 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2019)
+$24,954 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-13 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 32.54% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-13 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $101,641 $3,909.27 $48.70 +$24,954
Step 2 $105,029 $4,039.58 $50.33 +$25,786
Step 3 $108,416 $4,169.85 $51.95 +$26,617
Step 4 $111,804 $4,300.15 $53.57 +$27,449
Step 5 $115,192 $4,430.46 $55.20 +$28,281
Step 6 $118,580 $4,560.77 $56.82 +$29,113
Step 7 $121,967 $4,691.04 $58.44 +$29,944
Step 8 $125,355 $4,821.35 $60.06 +$30,776
Step 9 $128,743 $4,951.65 $61.69 +$31,608
Step 10 $132,130 $5,081.92 $63.31 +$32,439
← GS-12 Calculate my take-home GS-14 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-13 Step 1 $76,687
  • HOUSTON GS-13 Step 1 $101,641
  • Locality add-on +$24,954
  • Adjustment percent 32.54%
  • Base GS-13 Step 10 $99,691
  • HOUSTON GS-13 Step 10 $132,130

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-13 in HOUSTON: what to expect

Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.

For 2019, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 32.54% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.

Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.

The rough military equivalent for GS-13 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-13 in HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $3,909 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,082. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2019 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-13 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-13 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-13 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2019, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $101,641 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $132,130. This is 32.54% higher than the base GS-13 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2019, it is 32.54%. On a GS-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,954 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $3,909 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.