2025 GS-13 Pay in Houston
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,025 on the base table to $121,534 in Houston.
2025 GS-13 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,534 | $4,674.38 | $58.23 | +$31,509 |
| Step 2 | $125,585 | $4,830.19 | $60.17 | +$32,559 |
| Step 3 | $129,636 | $4,986.00 | $62.12 | +$33,609 |
| Step 4 | $133,688 | $5,141.85 | $64.06 | +$34,660 |
| Step 5 | $137,739 | $5,297.65 | $66.00 | +$35,710 |
| Step 6 | $141,791 | $5,453.50 | $67.94 | +$36,761 |
| Step 7 | $145,842 | $5,609.31 | $69.88 | +$37,811 |
| Step 8 | $149,893 | $5,765.12 | $71.82 | +$38,861 |
| Step 9 | $153,945 | $5,920.96 | $73.76 | +$39,912 |
| Step 10 | $157,996 | $6,076.77 | $75.70 | +$40,962 |
2025 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $121,534 | $4,674.38 | $58.23 | +$31,509 |
| Step 2 | $125,585 | $4,830.19 | $60.17 | +$32,559 |
| Step 3 | $129,636 | $4,986.00 | $62.12 | +$33,609 |
| Step 4 | $133,688 | $5,141.85 | $64.06 | +$34,660 |
| Step 5 | $137,739 | $5,297.65 | $66.00 | +$35,710 |
| Step 6 | $141,791 | $5,453.50 | $67.94 | +$36,761 |
| Step 7 | $145,842 | $5,609.31 | $69.88 | +$37,811 |
| Step 8 | $149,893 | $5,765.12 | $71.82 | +$38,861 |
| Step 9 | $153,945 | $5,920.96 | $73.76 | +$39,912 |
| Step 10 | $157,996 | $6,076.77 | $75.70 | +$40,962 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Houston: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2025, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $4,674 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,077. 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-13 Houston page.
Other grades in Houston
GS-13 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Houston?
In 2025, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $121,534 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $157,996. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $31,509 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $4,674 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.