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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$65,180 GS-9 Step 1 in San Francisco (2021)
$84,732 GS-9 Step 10 in San Francisco (2021)
+$19,097 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-9 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 41.44% 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 $65,180 $2,506.92 $31.23 +$19,097
Step 2 $67,352 $2,590.46 $32.27 +$19,733
Step 3 $69,525 $2,674.04 $33.31 +$20,370
Step 4 $71,697 $2,757.58 $34.35 +$21,006
Step 5 $73,870 $2,841.15 $35.40 +$21,643
Step 6 $76,042 $2,924.69 $36.44 +$22,279
Step 7 $78,215 $3,008.27 $37.48 +$22,916
Step 8 $80,387 $3,091.81 $38.52 +$23,552
Step 9 $82,560 $3,175.38 $39.56 +$24,189
Step 10 $84,732 $3,258.92 $40.60 +$24,825
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $46,083
  • San Francisco GS-9 Step 1 $65,180
  • Locality add-on +$19,097
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $59,907
  • San Francisco GS-9 Step 10 $84,732

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 Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% 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 Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,507 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,259. 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 Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-9 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in San Francisco?
    In 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $65,180 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $84,732. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2021, it is 41.44%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $19,097 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,507 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.