2019 GS-15 Pay in HOUSTON
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 32.54% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $106,595 on the base table to $141,281 in HOUSTON.
2019 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 | $141,281 | $5,433.88 | $67.70 | +$34,686 |
| Step 2 | $145,990 | $5,615.00 | $69.95 | +$35,842 |
| Step 3 | $150,699 | $5,796.12 | $72.21 | +$36,998 |
| Step 4 | $155,408 | $5,977.23 | $74.46 | +$38,154 |
| Step 5 | $160,118 | $6,158.38 | $76.72 | +$39,311 |
| Step 6 | $164,827 | $6,339.50 | $78.98 | +$40,467 |
| Step 7 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$38,587 |
| Step 8 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$35,034 |
| Step 9 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$31,481 |
| Step 10 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$27,928 |
2019 GS-15 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-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $141,281 | $5,433.88 | $67.70 | +$34,686 |
| Step 2 | $145,990 | $5,615.00 | $69.95 | +$35,842 |
| Step 3 | $150,699 | $5,796.12 | $72.21 | +$36,998 |
| Step 4 | $155,408 | $5,977.23 | $74.46 | +$38,154 |
| Step 5 | $160,118 | $6,158.38 | $76.72 | +$39,311 |
| Step 6 | $164,827 | $6,339.50 | $78.98 | +$40,467 |
| Step 7 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$38,587 |
| Step 8 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$35,034 |
| Step 9 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$31,481 |
| Step 10 | $166,500 | $6,403.85 | $79.78 | +$27,928 |
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 2019, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 32.54% 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 $5,434 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,404. 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-15 HOUSTON page.
Other grades in HOUSTON
GS-15 in HOUSTON questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in HOUSTON?
In 2019, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $141,281 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $166,500. This is 32.54% 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 2019, it is 32.54%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $34,686 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 $5,434 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.