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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$64,448 GS-9 Step 1 in Cleveland (2026)
$83,787 GS-9 Step 10 in Cleveland (2026)
+$11,721 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-9 pay table for Cleveland

Each step below already includes the 22.23% 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 $64,448 $2,478.77 $30.88 +$11,721
Step 2 $66,597 $2,561.42 $31.91 +$12,112
Step 3 $68,746 $2,644.08 $32.94 +$12,503
Step 4 $70,895 $2,726.73 $33.97 +$12,894
Step 5 $73,043 $2,809.35 $35.00 +$13,284
Step 6 $75,192 $2,892.00 $36.03 +$13,675
Step 7 $77,341 $2,974.65 $37.06 +$14,066
Step 8 $79,490 $3,057.31 $38.09 +$14,457
Step 9 $81,639 $3,139.96 $39.12 +$14,848
Step 10 $83,787 $3,222.58 $40.15 +$15,238
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Cleveland pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,727
  • Cleveland GS-9 Step 1 $64,448
  • Locality add-on +$11,721
  • Adjustment percent 22.23%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $68,549
  • Cleveland GS-9 Step 10 $83,787

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 Cleveland: what to expect

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

For 2026, the Cleveland pay area adds a 22.23% 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 Cleveland

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $2,479 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,223. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in Cleveland

GS-9 in Cleveland questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Cleveland?
    In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns $64,448 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $83,787. This is 22.23% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Cleveland?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cleveland in 2026, it is 22.23%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,721 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Cleveland?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $2,479 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.