2026 GS-9 Pay in Denver
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $68,819 in Denver.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,819 | $2,646.88 | $32.98 | +$16,092 |
| Step 2 | $71,114 | $2,735.15 | $34.07 | +$16,629 |
| Step 3 | $73,408 | $2,823.38 | $35.17 | +$17,165 |
| Step 4 | $75,703 | $2,911.65 | $36.27 | +$17,702 |
| Step 5 | $77,997 | $2,999.88 | $37.37 | +$18,238 |
| Step 6 | $80,292 | $3,088.15 | $38.47 | +$18,775 |
| Step 7 | $82,587 | $3,176.42 | $39.57 | +$19,312 |
| Step 8 | $84,881 | $3,264.65 | $40.67 | +$19,848 |
| Step 9 | $87,176 | $3,352.92 | $41.77 | +$20,385 |
| Step 10 | $89,470 | $3,441.15 | $42.87 | +$20,921 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $68,819 | $2,646.88 | $32.98 | +$16,092 |
| Step 2 | $71,114 | $2,735.15 | $34.07 | +$16,629 |
| Step 3 | $73,408 | $2,823.38 | $35.17 | +$17,165 |
| Step 4 | $75,703 | $2,911.65 | $36.27 | +$17,702 |
| Step 5 | $77,997 | $2,999.88 | $37.37 | +$18,238 |
| Step 6 | $80,292 | $3,088.15 | $38.47 | +$18,775 |
| Step 7 | $82,587 | $3,176.42 | $39.57 | +$19,312 |
| Step 8 | $84,881 | $3,264.65 | $40.67 | +$19,848 |
| Step 9 | $87,176 | $3,352.92 | $41.77 | +$20,385 |
| Step 10 | $89,470 | $3,441.15 | $42.87 | +$20,921 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Denver: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,647 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,441. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Denver
GS-9 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Denver?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $68,819 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $89,470. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2026, it is 30.52%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,092 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,647 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.