2026 GS-9 Pay in Houston
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% 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 $71,181 in Houston.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $71,181 | $2,737.73 | $34.11 | +$18,454 |
| Step 2 | $73,555 | $2,829.04 | $35.24 | +$19,070 |
| Step 3 | $75,928 | $2,920.31 | $36.38 | +$19,685 |
| Step 4 | $78,301 | $3,011.58 | $37.52 | +$20,300 |
| Step 5 | $80,675 | $3,102.88 | $38.66 | +$20,916 |
| Step 6 | $83,048 | $3,194.15 | $39.79 | +$21,531 |
| Step 7 | $85,421 | $3,285.42 | $40.93 | +$22,146 |
| Step 8 | $87,795 | $3,376.73 | $42.07 | +$22,762 |
| Step 9 | $90,168 | $3,468.00 | $43.20 | +$23,377 |
| Step 10 | $92,541 | $3,559.27 | $44.34 | +$23,992 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 35.00% 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 | $71,181 | $2,737.73 | $34.11 | +$18,454 |
| Step 2 | $73,555 | $2,829.04 | $35.24 | +$19,070 |
| Step 3 | $75,928 | $2,920.31 | $36.38 | +$19,685 |
| Step 4 | $78,301 | $3,011.58 | $37.52 | +$20,300 |
| Step 5 | $80,675 | $3,102.88 | $38.66 | +$20,916 |
| Step 6 | $83,048 | $3,194.15 | $39.79 | +$21,531 |
| Step 7 | $85,421 | $3,285.42 | $40.93 | +$22,146 |
| Step 8 | $87,795 | $3,376.73 | $42.07 | +$22,762 |
| Step 9 | $90,168 | $3,468.00 | $43.20 | +$23,377 |
| Step 10 | $92,541 | $3,559.27 | $44.34 | +$23,992 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Houston: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% 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 Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,738 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,559. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-9 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $71,181 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $92,541. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2026, it is 35.00%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $18,454 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $2,738 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.