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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,433 GS-9 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2021)
$69,462 GS-9 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2021)
+$7,350 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 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 $53,433 $2,055.12 $25.60 +$7,350
Step 2 $55,214 $2,123.62 $26.46 +$7,595
Step 3 $56,995 $2,192.12 $27.31 +$7,840
Step 4 $58,776 $2,260.62 $28.16 +$8,085
Step 5 $60,557 $2,329.12 $29.02 +$8,330
Step 6 $62,338 $2,397.62 $29.87 +$8,575
Step 7 $64,119 $2,466.12 $30.72 +$8,820
Step 8 $65,900 $2,534.62 $31.58 +$9,065
Step 9 $67,681 $2,603.12 $32.43 +$9,310
Step 10 $69,462 $2,671.62 $33.28 +$9,555
← 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 $46,083
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 1 $53,433
  • Locality add-on +$7,350
  • Adjustment percent 15.95%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,907
  • Rest of U.S. GS-9 Step 10 $69,462

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 2021, 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 $2,055 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,672. 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 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 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $53,433 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $69,462. 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 2021, it is 15.95%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,350 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 $2,055 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.