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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$79,766 GS-11 Step 1 in Houston (2023)
$103,693 GS-11 Step 10 in Houston (2023)
+$20,447 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-11 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 34.47% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-11 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $79,766 $3,067.92 $38.22 +$20,447
Step 2 $82,425 $3,170.19 $39.49 +$21,129
Step 3 $85,083 $3,272.42 $40.77 +$21,810
Step 4 $87,742 $3,374.69 $42.04 +$22,492
Step 5 $90,400 $3,476.92 $43.32 +$23,173
Step 6 $93,059 $3,579.19 $44.59 +$23,855
Step 7 $95,717 $3,681.42 $45.86 +$24,536
Step 8 $98,376 $3,783.69 $47.14 +$25,218
Step 9 $101,034 $3,885.92 $48.41 +$25,899
Step 10 $103,693 $3,988.19 $49.69 +$26,581
← GS-10 Calculate my take-home GS-12 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-11 Step 1 $59,319
  • Houston GS-11 Step 1 $79,766
  • Locality add-on +$20,447
  • Adjustment percent 34.47%
  • Base GS-11 Step 10 $77,112
  • Houston GS-11 Step 10 $103,693

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-11 in Houston: what to expect

Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.

For 2023, the Houston pay area adds a 34.47% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.

Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.

The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Houston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,068 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,988. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2023 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-11 Houston page.

Other grades in Houston

GS-11 in Houston questions

  • How much does a GS-11 make in Houston?
    In 2023, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $79,766 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $103,693. This is 34.47% higher than the base GS-11 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 in Houston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2023, it is 34.47%. On a GS-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,447 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Houston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,068 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.