2026 GS-12 Pay in Houston
GS-12 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% on top of the base GS-12 pay scale. That means a GS-12 Step 1 salary jumps from $76,463 on the base table to $103,225 in Houston.
2026 GS-12 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-12 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,225 | $3,970.19 | $49.46 | +$26,762 |
| Step 2 | $106,666 | $4,102.54 | $51.11 | +$27,654 |
| Step 3 | $110,107 | $4,234.88 | $52.76 | +$28,546 |
| Step 4 | $113,549 | $4,367.27 | $54.41 | +$29,439 |
| Step 5 | $116,990 | $4,499.62 | $56.06 | +$30,331 |
| Step 6 | $120,431 | $4,631.96 | $57.71 | +$31,223 |
| Step 7 | $123,872 | $4,764.31 | $59.35 | +$32,115 |
| Step 8 | $127,313 | $4,896.65 | $61.00 | +$33,007 |
| Step 9 | $130,754 | $5,029.00 | $62.65 | +$33,899 |
| Step 10 | $134,195 | $5,161.35 | $64.30 | +$34,791 |
2026 GS-12 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-12 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $103,225 | $3,970.19 | $49.46 | +$26,762 |
| Step 2 | $106,666 | $4,102.54 | $51.11 | +$27,654 |
| Step 3 | $110,107 | $4,234.88 | $52.76 | +$28,546 |
| Step 4 | $113,549 | $4,367.27 | $54.41 | +$29,439 |
| Step 5 | $116,990 | $4,499.62 | $56.06 | +$30,331 |
| Step 6 | $120,431 | $4,631.96 | $57.71 | +$31,223 |
| Step 7 | $123,872 | $4,764.31 | $59.35 | +$32,115 |
| Step 8 | $127,313 | $4,896.65 | $61.00 | +$33,007 |
| Step 9 | $130,754 | $5,029.00 | $62.65 | +$33,899 |
| Step 10 | $134,195 | $5,161.35 | $64.30 | +$34,791 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-12 in Houston: what to expect
Experienced professionals and working-level experts. This is the most common GS grade for mid-career federal employees. Many policy, acquisition, engineering and scientific specialists sit at GS-12.
For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-12 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-11 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-13 requires a GS-13 vacancy and selection on merit.
The rough military equivalent for GS-12 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-12 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,970 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,161. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-12 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-12 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $103,225 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $134,195. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-12 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-12 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-12 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $26,762 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-12 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-12 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $3,970 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.