2023 GS-12 Pay in Houston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 34.47% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $71,099 on the base table to $95,607 in Houston.
2023 GS-12 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $95,607 | $3,677.19 | $45.81 | +$24,508 |
| Step 2 | $98,794 | $3,799.77 | $47.34 | +$25,325 |
| Step 3 | $101,981 | $3,922.35 | $48.86 | +$26,142 |
| Step 4 | $105,168 | $4,044.92 | $50.39 | +$26,959 |
| Step 5 | $108,355 | $4,167.50 | $51.92 | +$27,776 |
| Step 6 | $111,542 | $4,290.08 | $53.45 | +$28,593 |
| Step 7 | $114,728 | $4,412.62 | $54.97 | +$29,409 |
| Step 8 | $117,915 | $4,535.19 | $56.50 | +$30,226 |
| Step 9 | $121,102 | $4,657.77 | $58.03 | +$31,043 |
| Step 10 | $124,289 | $4,780.35 | $59.55 | +$31,860 |
2023 GS-12 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-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $95,607 | $3,677.19 | $45.81 | +$24,508 |
| Step 2 | $98,794 | $3,799.77 | $47.34 | +$25,325 |
| Step 3 | $101,981 | $3,922.35 | $48.86 | +$26,142 |
| Step 4 | $105,168 | $4,044.92 | $50.39 | +$26,959 |
| Step 5 | $108,355 | $4,167.50 | $51.92 | +$27,776 |
| Step 6 | $111,542 | $4,290.08 | $53.45 | +$28,593 |
| Step 7 | $114,728 | $4,412.62 | $54.97 | +$29,409 |
| Step 8 | $117,915 | $4,535.19 | $56.50 | +$30,226 |
| Step 9 | $121,102 | $4,657.77 | $58.03 | +$31,043 |
| Step 10 | $124,289 | $4,780.35 | $59.55 | +$31,860 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Houston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2023, the Houston pay area adds a 34.47% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-12 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,677 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $4,780. 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-12 Houston page.
Other grades in Houston
GS-12 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Houston?
In 2023, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $95,607 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $124,289. This is 34.47% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,508 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,677 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.