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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$32,912 GS-3 Step 1 in San Antonio (2026)
$42,789 GS-3 Step 10 in San Antonio (2026)
+$5,204 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-3 pay table for San Antonio

Each step below already includes the 18.78% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-3 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $32,912 $1,265.85 $15.77 +$5,204
Step 2 $34,009 $1,308.04 $16.30 +$5,377
Step 3 $35,107 $1,350.27 $16.82 +$5,551
Step 4 $36,204 $1,392.46 $17.35 +$5,724
Step 5 $37,302 $1,434.69 $17.87 +$5,898
Step 6 $38,399 $1,476.88 $18.40 +$6,071
Step 7 $39,497 $1,519.12 $18.93 +$6,245
Step 8 $40,594 $1,561.31 $19.45 +$6,418
Step 9 $41,692 $1,603.54 $19.98 +$6,592
Step 10 $42,789 $1,645.73 $20.50 +$6,765
← GS-2 Calculate my take-home GS-4 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Antonio pays

  • Base GS-3 Step 1 $27,708
  • San Antonio GS-3 Step 1 $32,912
  • Locality add-on +$5,204
  • Adjustment percent 18.78%
  • Base GS-3 Step 10 $36,024
  • San Antonio GS-3 Step 10 $42,789

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-3 in San Antonio: what to expect

Routine clerical, office assistant and technician-support roles. Common entry grade for recent high school graduates.

For 2026, the San Antonio pay area adds a 18.78% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-3 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. One year of general experience or one year of post-secondary education.

Promotion path. Non-competitive promotion to GS-4 after one year of satisfactory performance.

The rough military equivalent for GS-3 is E-4 Specialist, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-3 in San Antonio

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in San Antonio earns roughly $1,266 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,646. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in San Antonio

GS-3 in San Antonio questions

  • How much does a GS-3 make in San Antonio?
    In 2026, a GS-3 Step 1 employee in San Antonio earns $32,912 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $42,789. This is 18.78% higher than the base GS-3 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-3 in San Antonio?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Antonio in 2026, it is 18.78%. On a GS-3 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,204 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-3 in San Antonio?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-3 Step 1 employee in San Antonio earns roughly $1,266 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.