2026 GS-14 Pay in Houston
GS-14 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% on top of the base GS-14 pay scale. That means a GS-14 Step 1 salary jumps from $107,446 on the base table to $145,052 in Houston.
2026 GS-14 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-14 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $145,052 | $5,578.92 | $69.50 | +$37,606 |
| Step 2 | $149,888 | $5,764.92 | $71.82 | +$38,860 |
| Step 3 | $154,724 | $5,950.92 | $74.14 | +$40,114 |
| Step 4 | $159,559 | $6,136.88 | $76.45 | +$41,367 |
| Step 5 | $164,395 | $6,322.88 | $78.77 | +$42,621 |
| Step 6 | $169,231 | $6,508.88 | $81.09 | +$43,875 |
| Step 7 | $174,066 | $6,694.85 | $83.40 | +$45,128 |
| Step 8 | $178,902 | $6,880.85 | $85.72 | +$46,382 |
| Step 9 | $183,738 | $7,066.85 | $88.04 | +$47,636 |
| Step 10 | $188,573 | $7,252.81 | $90.36 | +$48,889 |
2026 GS-14 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-14 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $145,052 | $5,578.92 | $69.50 | +$37,606 |
| Step 2 | $149,888 | $5,764.92 | $71.82 | +$38,860 |
| Step 3 | $154,724 | $5,950.92 | $74.14 | +$40,114 |
| Step 4 | $159,559 | $6,136.88 | $76.45 | +$41,367 |
| Step 5 | $164,395 | $6,322.88 | $78.77 | +$42,621 |
| Step 6 | $169,231 | $6,508.88 | $81.09 | +$43,875 |
| Step 7 | $174,066 | $6,694.85 | $83.40 | +$45,128 |
| Step 8 | $178,902 | $6,880.85 | $85.72 | +$46,382 |
| Step 9 | $183,738 | $7,066.85 | $88.04 | +$47,636 |
| Step 10 | $188,573 | $7,252.81 | $90.36 | +$48,889 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-14 in Houston: what to expect
Supervisory managers, senior program leads and senior technical experts. Many agency branch chiefs sit at GS-14.
For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-14 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-13 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-15 is selective; many GS-14 employees reach this grade as a career peak.
The rough military equivalent for GS-14 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-14 in Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $5,579 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,253. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-14 in Houston questions
-
How much does a GS-14 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-14 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $145,052 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $188,573. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-14 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-14 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-14 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $37,606 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-14 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-14 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $5,579 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.