2026 GS-13 Pay in Houston
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,925 on the base table to $122,749 in Houston.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $122,749 | $4,721.12 | $58.82 | +$31,824 |
| Step 2 | $126,841 | $4,878.50 | $60.78 | +$32,885 |
| Step 3 | $130,932 | $5,035.85 | $62.74 | +$33,945 |
| Step 4 | $135,024 | $5,193.23 | $64.70 | +$35,006 |
| Step 5 | $139,116 | $5,350.62 | $66.66 | +$36,067 |
| Step 6 | $143,208 | $5,508.00 | $68.62 | +$37,128 |
| Step 7 | $147,300 | $5,665.38 | $70.58 | +$38,189 |
| Step 8 | $151,392 | $5,822.77 | $72.54 | +$39,250 |
| Step 9 | $155,484 | $5,980.15 | $74.50 | +$40,311 |
| Step 10 | $159,575 | $6,137.50 | $76.46 | +$41,371 |
2026 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $122,749 | $4,721.12 | $58.82 | +$31,824 |
| Step 2 | $126,841 | $4,878.50 | $60.78 | +$32,885 |
| Step 3 | $130,932 | $5,035.85 | $62.74 | +$33,945 |
| Step 4 | $135,024 | $5,193.23 | $64.70 | +$35,006 |
| Step 5 | $139,116 | $5,350.62 | $66.66 | +$36,067 |
| Step 6 | $143,208 | $5,508.00 | $68.62 | +$37,128 |
| Step 7 | $147,300 | $5,665.38 | $70.58 | +$38,189 |
| Step 8 | $151,392 | $5,822.77 | $72.54 | +$39,250 |
| Step 9 | $155,484 | $5,980.15 | $74.50 | +$40,311 |
| Step 10 | $159,575 | $6,137.50 | $76.46 | +$41,371 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Houston: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 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-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 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-13 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $4,721 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,138. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-13 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-13 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $122,749 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $159,575. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $31,824 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $4,721 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.