2025 GS-12 Pay in Houston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $75,706 on the base table to $102,203 in Houston.
2025 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 | $102,203 | $3,930.88 | $48.97 | +$26,497 |
| Step 2 | $105,611 | $4,061.96 | $50.60 | +$27,381 |
| Step 3 | $109,018 | $4,193.00 | $52.24 | +$28,264 |
| Step 4 | $112,425 | $4,324.04 | $53.87 | +$29,147 |
| Step 5 | $115,833 | $4,455.12 | $55.50 | +$30,031 |
| Step 6 | $119,240 | $4,586.15 | $57.13 | +$30,914 |
| Step 7 | $122,648 | $4,717.23 | $58.77 | +$31,798 |
| Step 8 | $126,055 | $4,848.27 | $60.40 | +$32,681 |
| Step 9 | $129,462 | $4,979.31 | $62.03 | +$33,564 |
| Step 10 | $132,870 | $5,110.38 | $63.67 | +$34,448 |
2025 GS-12 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 35.00% 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 | $102,203 | $3,930.88 | $48.97 | +$26,497 |
| Step 2 | $105,611 | $4,061.96 | $50.60 | +$27,381 |
| Step 3 | $109,018 | $4,193.00 | $52.24 | +$28,264 |
| Step 4 | $112,425 | $4,324.04 | $53.87 | +$29,147 |
| Step 5 | $115,833 | $4,455.12 | $55.50 | +$30,031 |
| Step 6 | $119,240 | $4,586.15 | $57.13 | +$30,914 |
| Step 7 | $122,648 | $4,717.23 | $58.77 | +$31,798 |
| Step 8 | $126,055 | $4,848.27 | $60.40 | +$32,681 |
| Step 9 | $129,462 | $4,979.31 | $62.03 | +$33,564 |
| Step 10 | $132,870 | $5,110.38 | $63.67 | +$34,448 |
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 2025, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% 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 $3,931 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,110. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2025 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 2025, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $102,203 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $132,870. This is 35.00% 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 2025, it is 35.00%. On a GS-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,497 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 $3,931 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.