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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$63,098 GS-9 Step 1 in Charlotte (2026)
$82,033 GS-9 Step 10 in Charlotte (2026)
+$10,371 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-9 pay table for Charlotte

Each step below already includes the 19.67% 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 $63,098 $2,426.85 $30.23 +$10,371
Step 2 $65,202 $2,507.77 $31.24 +$10,717
Step 3 $67,306 $2,588.69 $32.25 +$11,063
Step 4 $69,410 $2,669.62 $33.26 +$11,409
Step 5 $71,514 $2,750.54 $34.27 +$11,755
Step 6 $73,617 $2,831.42 $35.27 +$12,100
Step 7 $75,721 $2,912.35 $36.28 +$12,446
Step 8 $77,825 $2,993.27 $37.29 +$12,792
Step 9 $79,929 $3,074.19 $38.30 +$13,138
Step 10 $82,033 $3,155.12 $39.31 +$13,484
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Charlotte pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,727
  • Charlotte GS-9 Step 1 $63,098
  • Locality add-on +$10,371
  • Adjustment percent 19.67%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $68,549
  • Charlotte GS-9 Step 10 $82,033

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 Charlotte: what to expect

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

For 2026, the Charlotte pay area adds a 19.67% 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 Charlotte

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $2,427 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,155. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Charlotte

GS-9 in Charlotte questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Charlotte?
    In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $63,098 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,033. This is 19.67% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Charlotte?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2026, it is 19.67%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,371 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Charlotte?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $2,427 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.