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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$63,091 GS-9 Step 1 in Houston (2022)
$82,020 GS-9 Step 10 in Houston (2022)
+$15,994 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-9 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 33.96% 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 $63,091 $2,426.58 $30.23 +$15,994
Step 2 $65,194 $2,507.46 $31.24 +$16,527
Step 3 $67,297 $2,588.35 $32.25 +$17,060
Step 4 $69,401 $2,669.27 $33.25 +$17,594
Step 5 $71,504 $2,750.15 $34.26 +$18,127
Step 6 $73,607 $2,831.04 $35.27 +$18,660
Step 7 $75,710 $2,911.92 $36.28 +$19,193
Step 8 $77,813 $2,992.81 $37.28 +$19,726
Step 9 $79,917 $3,073.73 $38.29 +$20,260
Step 10 $82,020 $3,154.62 $39.30 +$20,793
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $47,097
  • Houston GS-9 Step 1 $63,091
  • Locality add-on +$15,994
  • Adjustment percent 33.96%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $61,227
  • Houston GS-9 Step 10 $82,020

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 2022, the Houston pay area adds a 33.96% 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 $2,427 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,155. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2022 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 2022, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $63,091 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,020. This is 33.96% 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 2022, it is 33.96%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,994 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 $2,427 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.