An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$78,386 GS-10 Step 1 in Houston (2026)
$101,897 GS-10 Step 10 in Houston (2026)
+$20,322 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-10 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-10 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $78,386 $3,014.85 $37.56 +$20,322
Step 2 $80,999 $3,115.35 $38.81 +$21,000
Step 3 $83,611 $3,215.81 $40.06 +$21,677
Step 4 $86,223 $3,316.27 $41.31 +$22,354
Step 5 $88,835 $3,416.73 $42.57 +$23,031
Step 6 $91,448 $3,517.23 $43.82 +$23,709
Step 7 $94,060 $3,617.69 $45.07 +$24,386
Step 8 $96,672 $3,718.15 $46.32 +$25,063
Step 9 $99,284 $3,818.62 $47.57 +$25,740
Step 10 $101,897 $3,919.12 $48.82 +$26,418
← GS-9 Calculate my take-home GS-11 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-10 Step 1 $58,064
  • Houston GS-10 Step 1 $78,386
  • Locality add-on +$20,322
  • Adjustment percent 35.00%
  • Base GS-10 Step 10 $75,479
  • Houston GS-10 Step 10 $101,897

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-10 in Houston: what to expect

Senior technician and supervisory positions, and full-performance roles in a handful of occupations such as Border Patrol and IT.

For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-10 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-9 level, plus agency-specific requirements.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-11 after one year of creditable experience in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-10 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-10 in Houston

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,015 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,919. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Houston

GS-10 in Houston questions

  • How much does a GS-10 make in Houston?
    In 2026, a GS-10 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $78,386 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $101,897. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-10 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-10 in Houston?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2026, it is 35.00%. On a GS-10 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $20,322 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-10 in Houston?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-10 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,015 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.