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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$74,334 GS-11 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2021)
$96,640 GS-11 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2021)
+$18,578 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-11 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-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $74,334 $2,859.00 $35.62 +$18,578
Step 2 $76,812 $2,954.31 $36.80 +$19,197
Step 3 $79,291 $3,049.65 $37.99 +$19,817
Step 4 $81,769 $3,144.96 $39.18 +$20,436
Step 5 $84,248 $3,240.31 $40.37 +$21,056
Step 6 $86,726 $3,335.62 $41.56 +$21,675
Step 7 $89,204 $3,430.92 $42.74 +$22,294
Step 8 $91,683 $3,526.27 $43.93 +$22,914
Step 9 $94,161 $3,621.58 $45.12 +$23,533
Step 10 $96,640 $3,716.92 $46.31 +$24,153
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $55,756
  • HOUSTON GS-11 Step 1 $74,334
  • Locality add-on +$18,578
  • Adjustment percent 33.32%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $72,487
  • HOUSTON GS-11 Step 10 $96,640

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-11 in HOUSTON: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2021, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,859 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,717. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-11 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2021, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $74,334 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $96,640. This is 33.32% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2021, it is 33.32%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,578 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,859 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.