2026 GS-9 Pay in Seattle
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 31.57% 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 $69,373 in Seattle.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $69,373 | $2,668.19 | $33.24 | +$16,646 |
| Step 2 | $71,686 | $2,757.15 | $34.35 | +$17,201 |
| Step 3 | $73,999 | $2,846.12 | $35.46 | +$17,756 |
| Step 4 | $76,312 | $2,935.08 | $36.57 | +$18,311 |
| Step 5 | $78,625 | $3,024.04 | $37.67 | +$18,866 |
| Step 6 | $80,938 | $3,113.00 | $38.78 | +$19,421 |
| Step 7 | $83,251 | $3,201.96 | $39.89 | +$19,976 |
| Step 8 | $85,564 | $3,290.92 | $41.00 | +$20,531 |
| Step 9 | $87,877 | $3,379.88 | $42.11 | +$21,086 |
| Step 10 | $90,190 | $3,468.85 | $43.22 | +$21,641 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 | $69,373 | $2,668.19 | $33.24 | +$16,646 |
| Step 2 | $71,686 | $2,757.15 | $34.35 | +$17,201 |
| Step 3 | $73,999 | $2,846.12 | $35.46 | +$17,756 |
| Step 4 | $76,312 | $2,935.08 | $36.57 | +$18,311 |
| Step 5 | $78,625 | $3,024.04 | $37.67 | +$18,866 |
| Step 6 | $80,938 | $3,113.00 | $38.78 | +$19,421 |
| Step 7 | $83,251 | $3,201.96 | $39.89 | +$19,976 |
| Step 8 | $85,564 | $3,290.92 | $41.00 | +$20,531 |
| Step 9 | $87,877 | $3,379.88 | $42.11 | +$21,086 |
| Step 10 | $90,190 | $3,468.85 | $43.22 | +$21,641 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Seattle: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,668 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,469. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-9 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-9 make in Seattle?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $69,373 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $90,190. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2026, it is 31.57%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,646 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $2,668 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.