An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$60,830 GS-9 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2020)
$79,080 GS-9 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2020)
+$15,203 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $60,830 $2,339.62 $29.15 +$15,203
Step 2 $62,858 $2,417.62 $30.12 +$15,710
Step 3 $64,886 $2,495.62 $31.09 +$16,217
Step 4 $66,913 $2,573.58 $32.06 +$16,723
Step 5 $68,941 $2,651.58 $33.03 +$17,230
Step 6 $70,969 $2,729.58 $34.01 +$17,737
Step 7 $72,997 $2,807.58 $34.98 +$18,244
Step 8 $75,024 $2,885.54 $35.95 +$18,750
Step 9 $77,052 $2,963.54 $36.92 +$19,257
Step 10 $79,080 $3,041.54 $37.89 +$19,764
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $45,627
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 1 $60,830
  • Locality add-on +$15,203
  • Adjustment percent 33.32%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,316
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 10 $79,080

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 HOUSTON: what to expect

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

For 2020, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% 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 HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,340 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,042. 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-9 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-9 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2020, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $60,830 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $79,080. This is 33.32% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,203 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,340 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.