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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$51,440 GS-9 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2019)
$66,868 GS-9 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2019)
+$6,969 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-9 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.67% 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 $51,440 $1,978.46 $24.65 +$6,969
Step 2 $53,154 $2,044.38 $25.47 +$7,201
Step 3 $54,868 $2,110.31 $26.29 +$7,433
Step 4 $56,582 $2,176.23 $27.11 +$7,665
Step 5 $58,297 $2,242.19 $27.93 +$7,898
Step 6 $60,011 $2,308.12 $28.75 +$8,130
Step 7 $61,725 $2,374.04 $29.58 +$8,362
Step 8 $63,439 $2,439.96 $30.40 +$8,594
Step 9 $65,153 $2,505.88 $31.22 +$8,826
Step 10 $66,868 $2,571.85 $32.04 +$9,059
← 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 $44,471
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 1 $51,440
  • Locality add-on +$6,969
  • Adjustment percent 15.67%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $57,809
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 10 $66,868

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 2019, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.67% 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 $1,978 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,572. 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-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 2019, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $51,440 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,868. This is 15.67% 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 2019, it is 15.67%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,969 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 $1,978 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.