2026 GS-9 Pay in Buffalo
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY earn 22.41% 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 $64,543 in Buffalo.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Buffalo
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $64,543 | $2,482.42 | $30.93 | +$11,816 |
| Step 2 | $66,695 | $2,565.19 | $31.96 | +$12,210 |
| Step 3 | $68,847 | $2,647.96 | $32.99 | +$12,604 |
| Step 4 | $70,999 | $2,730.73 | $34.02 | +$12,998 |
| Step 5 | $73,151 | $2,813.50 | $35.05 | +$13,392 |
| Step 6 | $75,303 | $2,896.27 | $36.08 | +$13,786 |
| Step 7 | $77,455 | $2,979.04 | $37.11 | +$14,180 |
| Step 8 | $79,607 | $3,061.81 | $38.14 | +$14,574 |
| Step 9 | $81,759 | $3,144.58 | $39.18 | +$14,968 |
| Step 10 | $83,911 | $3,227.35 | $40.21 | +$15,362 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Buffalo
Each step below already includes the 22.41% 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 | $64,543 | $2,482.42 | $30.93 | +$11,816 |
| Step 2 | $66,695 | $2,565.19 | $31.96 | +$12,210 |
| Step 3 | $68,847 | $2,647.96 | $32.99 | +$12,604 |
| Step 4 | $70,999 | $2,730.73 | $34.02 | +$12,998 |
| Step 5 | $73,151 | $2,813.50 | $35.05 | +$13,392 |
| Step 6 | $75,303 | $2,896.27 | $36.08 | +$13,786 |
| Step 7 | $77,455 | $2,979.04 | $37.11 | +$14,180 |
| Step 8 | $79,607 | $3,061.81 | $38.14 | +$14,574 |
| Step 9 | $81,759 | $3,144.58 | $39.18 | +$14,968 |
| Step 10 | $83,911 | $3,227.35 | $40.21 | +$15,362 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Buffalo pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Buffalo: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Buffalo pay area adds a 22.41% 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 Buffalo
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $2,482 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,227. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Buffalo
GS-9 in Buffalo questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Buffalo?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns $64,543 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $83,911. This is 22.41% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Buffalo?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Buffalo in 2026, it is 22.41%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,816 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Buffalo?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $2,482 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.