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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$65,928 GS-9 Step 1 in Houston (2023)
$85,703 GS-9 Step 10 in Houston (2023)
+$16,900 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $65,928 $2,535.69 $31.59 +$16,900
Step 2 $68,125 $2,620.19 $32.64 +$17,463
Step 3 $70,322 $2,704.69 $33.70 +$18,026
Step 4 $72,520 $2,789.23 $34.75 +$18,590
Step 5 $74,717 $2,873.73 $35.80 +$19,153
Step 6 $76,914 $2,958.23 $36.85 +$19,716
Step 7 $79,111 $3,042.73 $37.91 +$20,279
Step 8 $81,309 $3,127.27 $38.96 +$20,843
Step 9 $83,506 $3,211.77 $40.01 +$21,406
Step 10 $85,703 $3,296.27 $41.07 +$21,969
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $49,028
  • Houston GS-9 Step 1 $65,928
  • Locality add-on +$16,900
  • Adjustment percent 34.47%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $63,734
  • Houston GS-9 Step 10 $85,703

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 2023, the Houston pay area adds a 34.47% 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 $2,536 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,296. 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-9 Houston page.

Other grades in Houston

GS-9 in Houston questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Houston?
    In 2023, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $65,928 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $85,703. This is 34.47% 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 2023, it is 34.47%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,900 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 $2,536 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.