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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$64,957 GS-9 Step 1 in Washington DC (2023)
$84,441 GS-9 Step 10 in Washington DC (2023)
+$15,929 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-9 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 32.49% 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 $64,957 $2,498.35 $31.12 +$15,929
Step 2 $67,122 $2,581.62 $32.16 +$16,460
Step 3 $69,287 $2,664.88 $33.20 +$16,991
Step 4 $71,452 $2,748.15 $34.24 +$17,522
Step 5 $73,617 $2,831.42 $35.27 +$18,053
Step 6 $75,782 $2,914.69 $36.31 +$18,584
Step 7 $77,947 $2,997.96 $37.35 +$19,115
Step 8 $80,111 $3,081.19 $38.39 +$19,645
Step 9 $82,276 $3,164.46 $39.42 +$20,176
Step 10 $84,441 $3,247.73 $40.46 +$20,707
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $49,028
  • Washington DC GS-9 Step 1 $64,957
  • Locality add-on +$15,929
  • Adjustment percent 32.49%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $63,734
  • Washington DC GS-9 Step 10 $84,441

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 Washington DC: what to expect

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

For 2023, the Washington DC pay area adds a 32.49% 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 Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,498 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,248. 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 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-9 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Washington DC?
    In 2023, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $64,957 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $84,441. This is 32.49% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2023, it is 32.49%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,929 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,498 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.