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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,367 GS-3 Step 1 in Austin (2024)
$42,076 GS-3 Step 10 in Austin (2024)
+$5,392 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-3 pay table for Austin

Each step below already includes the 19.99% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $32,367 $1,244.88 $15.51 +$5,392
Step 2 $33,446 $1,286.38 $16.03 +$5,572
Step 3 $34,525 $1,327.88 $16.54 +$5,752
Step 4 $35,603 $1,369.35 $17.06 +$5,931
Step 5 $36,682 $1,410.85 $17.58 +$6,111
Step 6 $37,761 $1,452.35 $18.09 +$6,291
Step 7 $38,840 $1,493.85 $18.61 +$6,471
Step 8 $39,918 $1,535.31 $19.13 +$6,650
Step 9 $40,997 $1,576.81 $19.64 +$6,830
Step 10 $42,076 $1,618.31 $20.16 +$7,010

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Austin pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $26,975
  • Austin GS-3 Step 1 $32,367
  • Locality add-on +$5,392
  • Adjustment percent 19.99%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $35,066
  • Austin GS-3 Step 10 $42,076

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-3 in Austin: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2024, the Austin pay area adds a 19.99% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in Austin

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,245 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,618. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2024 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-3 Austin page.

Other grades in Austin

GS-3 in Austin questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in Austin?
    In 2024, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in Austin earns $32,367 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,076. This is 19.99% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in Austin?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Austin in 2024, it is 19.99%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,392 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in Austin?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,245 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.