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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$69,213 GS-9 Step 1 in Boston (2025)
$89,975 GS-9 Step 10 in Boston (2025)
+$17,008 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-9 pay table for Boston

Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 $69,213 $2,662.04 $33.16 +$17,008
Step 2 $71,520 $2,750.77 $34.27 +$17,575
Step 3 $73,827 $2,839.50 $35.37 +$18,142
Step 4 $76,134 $2,928.23 $36.48 +$18,709
Step 5 $78,441 $3,016.96 $37.59 +$19,276
Step 6 $80,748 $3,105.69 $38.69 +$19,843
Step 7 $83,055 $3,194.42 $39.80 +$20,410
Step 8 $85,362 $3,283.15 $40.90 +$20,977
Step 9 $87,669 $3,371.88 $42.01 +$21,544
Step 10 $89,975 $3,460.58 $43.11 +$22,110

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Boston pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,205
  • Boston GS-9 Step 1 $69,213
  • Locality add-on +$17,008
  • Adjustment percent 32.58%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $67,865
  • Boston GS-9 Step 10 $89,975

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 Boston: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,662 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,461. 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-9 Boston page.

Other grades in Boston

GS-9 in Boston questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Boston?
    In 2025, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $69,213 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,975. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Boston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2025, it is 32.58%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,008 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Boston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,662 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.