2020 GS-12 Pay in HOUSTON
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 33.32% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $66,167 on the base table to $88,214 in HOUSTON.
2020 GS-12 Pay in HOUSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,214 | $3,392.85 | $42.27 | +$22,047 |
| Step 2 | $91,155 | $3,505.96 | $43.68 | +$22,782 |
| Step 3 | $94,096 | $3,619.08 | $45.09 | +$23,517 |
| Step 4 | $97,037 | $3,732.19 | $46.50 | +$24,252 |
| Step 5 | $99,978 | $3,845.31 | $47.91 | +$24,987 |
| Step 6 | $102,919 | $3,958.42 | $49.31 | +$25,722 |
| Step 7 | $105,860 | $4,071.54 | $50.72 | +$26,457 |
| Step 8 | $108,801 | $4,184.65 | $52.13 | +$27,192 |
| Step 9 | $111,742 | $4,297.77 | $53.54 | +$27,927 |
| Step 10 | $114,683 | $4,410.88 | $54.95 | +$28,662 |
2020 GS-12 pay table for HOUSTON
Each step below already includes the 33.32% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $88,214 | $3,392.85 | $42.27 | +$22,047 |
| Step 2 | $91,155 | $3,505.96 | $43.68 | +$22,782 |
| Step 3 | $94,096 | $3,619.08 | $45.09 | +$23,517 |
| Step 4 | $97,037 | $3,732.19 | $46.50 | +$24,252 |
| Step 5 | $99,978 | $3,845.31 | $47.91 | +$24,987 |
| Step 6 | $102,919 | $3,958.42 | $49.31 | +$25,722 |
| Step 7 | $105,860 | $4,071.54 | $50.72 | +$26,457 |
| Step 8 | $108,801 | $4,184.65 | $52.13 | +$27,192 |
| Step 9 | $111,742 | $4,297.77 | $53.54 | +$27,927 |
| Step 10 | $114,683 | $4,410.88 | $54.95 | +$28,662 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more HOUSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in HOUSTON: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2020, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 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-12 in HOUSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $3,393 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,411. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2020 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-12 HOUSTON page.
Other grades in HOUSTON
GS-12 in HOUSTON questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in HOUSTON?
In 2020, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $88,214 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $114,683. This is 33.32% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 in HOUSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2020, it is 33.32%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $22,047 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in HOUSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $3,393 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.