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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$52,905 GS-9 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2020)
$68,777 GS-9 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2020)
+$7,278 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-9 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.95% 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 $52,905 $2,034.81 $25.35 +$7,278
Step 2 $54,668 $2,102.62 $26.19 +$7,520
Step 3 $56,432 $2,170.46 $27.04 +$7,763
Step 4 $58,195 $2,238.27 $27.88 +$8,005
Step 5 $59,959 $2,306.12 $28.73 +$8,248
Step 6 $61,723 $2,373.96 $29.57 +$8,491
Step 7 $63,486 $2,441.77 $30.42 +$8,733
Step 8 $65,250 $2,509.62 $31.26 +$8,976
Step 9 $67,013 $2,577.42 $32.11 +$9,218
Step 10 $68,777 $2,645.27 $32.95 +$9,461
← 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 $45,627
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 1 $52,905
  • Locality add-on +$7,278
  • Adjustment percent 15.95%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,316
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 10 $68,777

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 2020, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% 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 $2,035 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,645. 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 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 2020, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $52,905 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $68,777. This is 15.95% 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 2020, it is 15.95%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,278 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 $2,035 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.