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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$68,686 GS-9 Step 1 in Seattle (2025)
$89,290 GS-9 Step 10 in Seattle (2025)
+$16,481 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-9 pay table for Seattle

Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 $68,686 $2,641.77 $32.91 +$16,481
Step 2 $70,975 $2,729.81 $34.01 +$17,030
Step 3 $73,265 $2,817.88 $35.11 +$17,580
Step 4 $75,554 $2,905.92 $36.20 +$18,129
Step 5 $77,843 $2,993.96 $37.30 +$18,678
Step 6 $80,133 $3,082.04 $38.40 +$19,228
Step 7 $82,422 $3,170.08 $39.49 +$19,777
Step 8 $84,711 $3,258.12 $40.59 +$20,326
Step 9 $87,001 $3,346.19 $41.69 +$20,876
Step 10 $89,290 $3,434.23 $42.78 +$21,425
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Seattle pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,205
  • Seattle GS-9 Step 1 $68,686
  • Locality add-on +$16,481
  • Adjustment percent 31.57%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $67,865
  • Seattle GS-9 Step 10 $89,290

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 Seattle: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,642 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,434. 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 Seattle page.

Other grades in Seattle

GS-9 in Seattle questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Seattle?
    In 2025, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $68,686 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,290. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Seattle?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2025, it is 31.57%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,481 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Seattle?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,642 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.