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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$63,457 GS-9 Step 1 in Austin (2026)
$82,499 GS-9 Step 10 in Austin (2026)
+$10,730 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-9 pay table for Austin

Each step below already includes the 20.35% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $63,457 $2,440.65 $30.41 +$10,730
Step 2 $65,573 $2,522.04 $31.42 +$11,088
Step 3 $67,688 $2,603.38 $32.43 +$11,445
Step 4 $69,804 $2,684.77 $33.45 +$11,803
Step 5 $71,920 $2,766.15 $34.46 +$12,161
Step 6 $74,036 $2,847.54 $35.47 +$12,519
Step 7 $76,151 $2,928.88 $36.49 +$12,876
Step 8 $78,267 $3,010.27 $37.50 +$13,234
Step 9 $80,383 $3,091.65 $38.52 +$13,592
Step 10 $82,499 $3,173.04 $39.53 +$13,950

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Austin pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,727
  • Austin GS-9 Step 1 $63,457
  • Locality add-on +$10,730
  • Adjustment percent 20.35%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $68,549
  • Austin GS-9 Step 10 $82,499

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-9 in Austin: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2026, the Austin pay area adds a 20.35% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-9 in Austin

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $2,441 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,173. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Austin

GS-9 in Austin questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Austin?
    In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Austin earns $63,457 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,499. This is 20.35% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Austin?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Austin in 2026, it is 20.35%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,730 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Austin?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $2,441 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.