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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$64,722 GS-9 Step 1 in San Diego (2023)
$84,135 GS-9 Step 10 in San Diego (2023)
+$15,694 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-9 pay table for San Diego

Each step below already includes the 32.01% 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 $64,722 $2,489.31 $31.01 +$15,694
Step 2 $66,879 $2,572.27 $32.05 +$16,217
Step 3 $69,036 $2,655.23 $33.08 +$16,740
Step 4 $71,193 $2,738.19 $34.11 +$17,263
Step 5 $73,350 $2,821.15 $35.15 +$17,786
Step 6 $75,507 $2,904.12 $36.18 +$18,309
Step 7 $77,664 $2,987.08 $37.21 +$18,832
Step 8 $79,821 $3,070.04 $38.25 +$19,355
Step 9 $81,978 $3,153.00 $39.28 +$19,878
Step 10 $84,135 $3,235.96 $40.31 +$20,401
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Diego pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $49,028
  • San Diego GS-9 Step 1 $64,722
  • Locality add-on +$15,694
  • Adjustment percent 32.01%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $63,734
  • San Diego GS-9 Step 10 $84,135

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 San Diego: what to expect

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

For 2023, the San Diego pay area adds a 32.01% 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 San Diego

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,489 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,236. 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 San Diego page.

Other grades in San Diego

GS-9 in San Diego questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in San Diego?
    In 2023, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $64,722 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $84,135. This is 32.01% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in San Diego?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2023, it is 32.01%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,694 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in San Diego?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,489 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.