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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$61,438 GS-9 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2021)
$79,868 GS-9 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2021)
+$15,355 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 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 $61,438 $2,363.00 $29.44 +$15,355
Step 2 $63,486 $2,441.77 $30.42 +$15,867
Step 3 $65,533 $2,520.50 $31.40 +$16,378
Step 4 $67,581 $2,599.27 $32.38 +$16,890
Step 5 $69,629 $2,678.04 $33.36 +$17,402
Step 6 $71,677 $2,756.81 $34.34 +$17,914
Step 7 $73,725 $2,835.58 $35.33 +$18,426
Step 8 $75,772 $2,914.31 $36.31 +$18,937
Step 9 $77,820 $2,993.08 $37.29 +$19,449
Step 10 $79,868 $3,071.85 $38.27 +$19,961
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $46,083
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 1 $61,438
  • Locality add-on +$15,355
  • Adjustment percent 33.32%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,907
  • HOUSTON GS-9 Step 10 $79,868

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 2021, 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 $2,363 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,072. 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-9 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-9 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $61,438 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $79,868. 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 2021, it is 33.32%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,355 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 $2,363 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.