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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$67,339 GS-9 Step 1 in Philadelphia (2025)
$87,539 GS-9 Step 10 in Philadelphia (2025)
+$15,134 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-9 pay table for Philadelphia

Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 $67,339 $2,589.96 $32.27 +$15,134
Step 2 $69,584 $2,676.31 $33.34 +$15,639
Step 3 $71,828 $2,762.62 $34.42 +$16,143
Step 4 $74,073 $2,848.96 $35.49 +$16,648
Step 5 $76,317 $2,935.27 $36.57 +$17,152
Step 6 $78,561 $3,021.58 $37.64 +$17,656
Step 7 $80,806 $3,107.92 $38.72 +$18,161
Step 8 $83,050 $3,194.23 $39.79 +$18,665
Step 9 $85,295 $3,280.58 $40.87 +$19,170
Step 10 $87,539 $3,366.88 $41.94 +$19,674
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Philadelphia pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,205
  • Philadelphia GS-9 Step 1 $67,339
  • Locality add-on +$15,134
  • Adjustment percent 28.99%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $67,865
  • Philadelphia GS-9 Step 10 $87,539

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 Philadelphia: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,590 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,367. 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 Philadelphia page.

Other grades in Philadelphia

GS-9 in Philadelphia questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Philadelphia?
    In 2025, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $67,339 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $87,539. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2025, it is 28.99%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,134 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,590 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.