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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,279 GS-9 Step 1 in SAN DIEGO (2019)
$74,458 GS-9 Step 10 in SAN DIEGO (2019)
+$12,808 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-9 pay table for SAN DIEGO

Each step below already includes the 28.80% 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 $57,279 $2,203.04 $27.45 +$12,808
Step 2 $59,187 $2,276.42 $28.36 +$13,234
Step 3 $61,096 $2,349.85 $29.27 +$13,661
Step 4 $63,005 $2,423.27 $30.19 +$14,088
Step 5 $64,914 $2,496.69 $31.10 +$14,515
Step 6 $66,823 $2,570.12 $32.02 +$14,942
Step 7 $68,732 $2,643.54 $32.93 +$15,369
Step 8 $70,640 $2,716.92 $33.85 +$15,795
Step 9 $72,549 $2,790.35 $34.76 +$16,222
Step 10 $74,458 $2,863.77 $35.68 +$16,649
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SAN DIEGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $44,471
  • SAN DIEGO GS-9 Step 1 $57,279
  • Locality add-on +$12,808
  • Adjustment percent 28.80%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $57,809
  • SAN DIEGO GS-9 Step 10 $74,458

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 SAN DIEGO: what to expect

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

For 2019, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 28.80% 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 SAN DIEGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $2,203 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,864. 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 SAN DIEGO page.

Other grades in SAN DIEGO

GS-9 in SAN DIEGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in SAN DIEGO?
    In 2019, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $57,279 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,458. This is 28.80% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in SAN DIEGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2019, it is 28.80%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,808 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in SAN DIEGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $2,203 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.