2021 GS-9 Pay in Washington DC
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% on top of the base GS-9 pay scale. That means a GS-9 Step 1 salary jumps from $46,083 on the base table to $60,129 in Washington DC.
2021 GS-9 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $60,129 | $2,312.65 | $28.81 | +$14,046 |
| Step 2 | $62,133 | $2,389.73 | $29.77 | +$14,514 |
| Step 3 | $64,137 | $2,466.81 | $30.73 | +$14,982 |
| Step 4 | $66,142 | $2,543.92 | $31.69 | +$15,451 |
| Step 5 | $68,146 | $2,621.00 | $32.65 | +$15,919 |
| Step 6 | $70,150 | $2,698.08 | $33.61 | +$16,387 |
| Step 7 | $72,154 | $2,775.15 | $34.57 | +$16,855 |
| Step 8 | $74,158 | $2,852.23 | $35.53 | +$17,323 |
| Step 9 | $76,162 | $2,929.31 | $36.49 | +$17,791 |
| Step 10 | $78,167 | $3,006.42 | $37.45 | +$18,260 |
2021 GS-9 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $60,129 | $2,312.65 | $28.81 | +$14,046 |
| Step 2 | $62,133 | $2,389.73 | $29.77 | +$14,514 |
| Step 3 | $64,137 | $2,466.81 | $30.73 | +$14,982 |
| Step 4 | $66,142 | $2,543.92 | $31.69 | +$15,451 |
| Step 5 | $68,146 | $2,621.00 | $32.65 | +$15,919 |
| Step 6 | $70,150 | $2,698.08 | $33.61 | +$16,387 |
| Step 7 | $72,154 | $2,775.15 | $34.57 | +$16,855 |
| Step 8 | $74,158 | $2,852.23 | $35.53 | +$17,323 |
| Step 9 | $76,162 | $2,929.31 | $36.49 | +$17,791 |
| Step 10 | $78,167 | $3,006.42 | $37.45 | +$18,260 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Washington DC: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2021, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,313 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,006. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-9 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Washington DC?
In 2021, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $60,129 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $78,167. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2021, it is 30.48%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,046 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,313 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.