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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$63,288 GS-9 Step 1 in St. Louis (2026)
$82,279 GS-9 Step 10 in St. Louis (2026)
+$10,561 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2026 GS-9 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 20.03% 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 $63,288 $2,434.15 $30.32 +$10,561
Step 2 $65,398 $2,515.31 $31.34 +$10,913
Step 3 $67,508 $2,596.46 $32.35 +$11,265
Step 4 $69,619 $2,677.65 $33.36 +$11,618
Step 5 $71,729 $2,758.81 $34.37 +$11,970
Step 6 $73,839 $2,839.96 $35.38 +$12,322
Step 7 $75,949 $2,921.12 $36.39 +$12,674
Step 8 $78,059 $3,002.27 $37.40 +$13,026
Step 9 $80,169 $3,083.42 $38.41 +$13,378
Step 10 $82,279 $3,164.58 $39.42 +$13,730
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,727
  • St. Louis GS-9 Step 1 $63,288
  • Locality add-on +$10,561
  • Adjustment percent 20.03%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $68,549
  • St. Louis GS-9 Step 10 $82,279

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-9 in St. Louis: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2026, the St. Louis pay area adds a 20.03% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $2,434 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,165. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-9 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in St. Louis?
    In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $63,288 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $82,279. This is 20.03% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2026, it is 20.03%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,561 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $2,434 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.