2026 GS-9 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 17.06% 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 $61,722 in Rest of U.S..
2026 GS-9 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $61,722 | $2,373.92 | $29.57 | +$8,995 |
| Step 2 | $63,780 | $2,453.08 | $30.56 | +$9,295 |
| Step 3 | $65,838 | $2,532.23 | $31.55 | +$9,595 |
| Step 4 | $67,896 | $2,611.38 | $32.53 | +$9,895 |
| Step 5 | $69,954 | $2,690.54 | $33.52 | +$10,195 |
| Step 6 | $72,012 | $2,769.69 | $34.51 | +$10,495 |
| Step 7 | $74,070 | $2,848.85 | $35.49 | +$10,795 |
| Step 8 | $76,128 | $2,928.00 | $36.48 | +$11,095 |
| Step 9 | $78,186 | $3,007.15 | $37.46 | +$11,395 |
| Step 10 | $80,243 | $3,086.27 | $38.45 | +$11,694 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 17.06% 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 | $61,722 | $2,373.92 | $29.57 | +$8,995 |
| Step 2 | $63,780 | $2,453.08 | $30.56 | +$9,295 |
| Step 3 | $65,838 | $2,532.23 | $31.55 | +$9,595 |
| Step 4 | $67,896 | $2,611.38 | $32.53 | +$9,895 |
| Step 5 | $69,954 | $2,690.54 | $33.52 | +$10,195 |
| Step 6 | $72,012 | $2,769.69 | $34.51 | +$10,495 |
| Step 7 | $74,070 | $2,848.85 | $35.49 | +$10,795 |
| Step 8 | $76,128 | $2,928.00 | $36.48 | +$11,095 |
| Step 9 | $78,186 | $3,007.15 | $37.46 | +$11,395 |
| Step 10 | $80,243 | $3,086.27 | $38.45 | +$11,694 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 17.06% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,374 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,086. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-9 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $61,722 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,243. This is 17.06% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2026, it is 17.06%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,995 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $2,374 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.