2026 GS-9 Pay in Boston
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% on top of the base GS-9 pay scale. That means a GS-9 Step 1 salary jumps from $52,727 on the base table to $69,905 in Boston.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $69,905 | $2,688.65 | $33.50 | +$17,178 |
| Step 2 | $72,236 | $2,778.31 | $34.61 | +$17,751 |
| Step 3 | $74,567 | $2,867.96 | $35.73 | +$18,324 |
| Step 4 | $76,898 | $2,957.62 | $36.85 | +$18,897 |
| Step 5 | $79,228 | $3,047.23 | $37.96 | +$19,469 |
| Step 6 | $81,559 | $3,136.88 | $39.08 | +$20,042 |
| Step 7 | $83,890 | $3,226.54 | $40.20 | +$20,615 |
| Step 8 | $86,221 | $3,316.19 | $41.31 | +$21,188 |
| Step 9 | $88,552 | $3,405.85 | $42.43 | +$21,761 |
| Step 10 | $90,882 | $3,495.46 | $43.55 | +$22,333 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 | $69,905 | $2,688.65 | $33.50 | +$17,178 |
| Step 2 | $72,236 | $2,778.31 | $34.61 | +$17,751 |
| Step 3 | $74,567 | $2,867.96 | $35.73 | +$18,324 |
| Step 4 | $76,898 | $2,957.62 | $36.85 | +$18,897 |
| Step 5 | $79,228 | $3,047.23 | $37.96 | +$19,469 |
| Step 6 | $81,559 | $3,136.88 | $39.08 | +$20,042 |
| Step 7 | $83,890 | $3,226.54 | $40.20 | +$20,615 |
| Step 8 | $86,221 | $3,316.19 | $41.31 | +$21,188 |
| Step 9 | $88,552 | $3,405.85 | $42.43 | +$21,761 |
| Step 10 | $90,882 | $3,495.46 | $43.55 | +$22,333 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Boston: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,689 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,495. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Boston
GS-9 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Boston?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $69,905 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $90,882. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2026, it is 32.58%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,178 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,689 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.