2026 GS-9 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $68,013 in Philadelphia.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $68,013 | $2,615.88 | $32.59 | +$15,286 |
| Step 2 | $70,280 | $2,703.08 | $33.68 | +$15,795 |
| Step 3 | $72,548 | $2,790.31 | $34.76 | +$16,305 |
| Step 4 | $74,815 | $2,877.50 | $35.85 | +$16,814 |
| Step 5 | $77,083 | $2,964.73 | $36.93 | +$17,324 |
| Step 6 | $79,351 | $3,051.96 | $38.02 | +$17,834 |
| Step 7 | $81,618 | $3,139.15 | $39.11 | +$18,343 |
| Step 8 | $83,886 | $3,226.38 | $40.19 | +$18,853 |
| Step 9 | $86,154 | $3,313.62 | $41.28 | +$19,363 |
| Step 10 | $88,421 | $3,400.81 | $42.37 | +$19,872 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $68,013 | $2,615.88 | $32.59 | +$15,286 |
| Step 2 | $70,280 | $2,703.08 | $33.68 | +$15,795 |
| Step 3 | $72,548 | $2,790.31 | $34.76 | +$16,305 |
| Step 4 | $74,815 | $2,877.50 | $35.85 | +$16,814 |
| Step 5 | $77,083 | $2,964.73 | $36.93 | +$17,324 |
| Step 6 | $79,351 | $3,051.96 | $38.02 | +$17,834 |
| Step 7 | $81,618 | $3,139.15 | $39.11 | +$18,343 |
| Step 8 | $83,886 | $3,226.38 | $40.19 | +$18,853 |
| Step 9 | $86,154 | $3,313.62 | $41.28 | +$19,363 |
| Step 10 | $88,421 | $3,400.81 | $42.37 | +$19,872 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,616 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,401. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-9 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Philadelphia?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $68,013 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $88,421. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2026, it is 28.99%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,286 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $2,616 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.