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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$59,802 GS-9 Step 1 in SAN DIEGO (2021)
$77,741 GS-9 Step 10 in SAN DIEGO (2021)
+$13,719 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-9 pay table for SAN DIEGO

Each step below already includes the 29.77% 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 $59,802 $2,300.08 $28.65 +$13,719
Step 2 $61,795 $2,376.73 $29.61 +$14,176
Step 3 $63,788 $2,453.38 $30.56 +$14,633
Step 4 $65,782 $2,530.08 $31.52 +$15,091
Step 5 $67,775 $2,606.73 $32.47 +$15,548
Step 6 $69,768 $2,683.38 $33.43 +$16,005
Step 7 $71,762 $2,760.08 $34.39 +$16,463
Step 8 $73,755 $2,836.73 $35.34 +$16,920
Step 9 $75,748 $2,913.38 $36.30 +$17,377
Step 10 $77,741 $2,990.04 $37.25 +$17,834
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SAN DIEGO pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $46,083
  • SAN DIEGO GS-9 Step 1 $59,802
  • Locality add-on +$13,719
  • Adjustment percent 29.77%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,907
  • SAN DIEGO GS-9 Step 10 $77,741

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 SAN DIEGO: what to expect

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

For 2021, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% 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 SAN DIEGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $2,300 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,990. 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 SAN DIEGO page.

Other grades in SAN DIEGO

GS-9 in SAN DIEGO questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in SAN DIEGO?
    In 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $59,802 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $77,741. This is 29.77% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in SAN DIEGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2021, it is 29.77%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,719 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in SAN DIEGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $2,300 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.