2020 GS-15 Pay in HOUSTON
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 33.32% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $109,366 on the base table to $145,807 in HOUSTON.
2020 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 | $145,807 | $5,607.96 | $69.86 | +$36,441 |
| Step 2 | $150,668 | $5,794.92 | $72.19 | +$37,656 |
| Step 3 | $155,528 | $5,981.85 | $74.52 | +$38,870 |
| Step 4 | $160,389 | $6,168.81 | $76.85 | +$40,085 |
| Step 5 | $165,250 | $6,355.77 | $79.18 | +$41,300 |
| Step 6 | $170,111 | $6,542.73 | $81.51 | +$42,515 |
| Step 7 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$39,558 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
2020 GS-15 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-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $145,807 | $5,607.96 | $69.86 | +$36,441 |
| Step 2 | $150,668 | $5,794.92 | $72.19 | +$37,656 |
| Step 3 | $155,528 | $5,981.85 | $74.52 | +$38,870 |
| Step 4 | $160,389 | $6,168.81 | $76.85 | +$40,085 |
| Step 5 | $165,250 | $6,355.77 | $79.18 | +$41,300 |
| Step 6 | $170,111 | $6,542.73 | $81.51 | +$42,515 |
| Step 7 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$39,558 |
| Step 8 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$35,912 |
| Step 9 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$32,266 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
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 2020, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% 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 $5,608 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,569. 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-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 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $145,807 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,800. This is 33.32% 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 2020, it is 33.32%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $36,441 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 $5,608 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.