An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$59,790 GS-9 Step 1 in Philadelphia (2022)
$77,728 GS-9 Step 10 in Philadelphia (2022)
+$12,693 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-9 pay table for Philadelphia

Each step below already includes the 26.95% 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 $59,790 $2,299.62 $28.65 +$12,693
Step 2 $61,783 $2,376.27 $29.60 +$13,116
Step 3 $63,776 $2,452.92 $30.56 +$13,539
Step 4 $65,769 $2,529.58 $31.51 +$13,962
Step 5 $67,762 $2,606.23 $32.47 +$14,385
Step 6 $69,755 $2,682.88 $33.42 +$14,808
Step 7 $71,748 $2,759.54 $34.38 +$15,231
Step 8 $73,741 $2,836.19 $35.33 +$15,654
Step 9 $75,735 $2,912.88 $36.29 +$16,078
Step 10 $77,728 $2,989.54 $37.24 +$16,501
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Philadelphia pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $47,097
  • Philadelphia GS-9 Step 1 $59,790
  • Locality add-on +$12,693
  • Adjustment percent 26.95%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $61,227
  • Philadelphia GS-9 Step 10 $77,728

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 Philadelphia: what to expect

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

For 2022, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 26.95% 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 Philadelphia

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia 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 2022 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-9 Philadelphia page.

Other grades in Philadelphia

GS-9 in Philadelphia questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Philadelphia?
    In 2022, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $59,790 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $77,728. This is 26.95% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2022, it is 26.95%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,693 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,300 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.