2026 GS-9 Pay in Washington DC
GS-9 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $70,623 in Washington DC.
2026 GS-9 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-9 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $70,623 | $2,716.27 | $33.84 | +$17,896 |
| Step 2 | $72,977 | $2,806.81 | $34.97 | +$18,492 |
| Step 3 | $75,332 | $2,897.38 | $36.10 | +$19,089 |
| Step 4 | $77,687 | $2,987.96 | $37.22 | +$19,686 |
| Step 5 | $80,041 | $3,078.50 | $38.35 | +$20,282 |
| Step 6 | $82,396 | $3,169.08 | $39.48 | +$20,879 |
| Step 7 | $84,751 | $3,259.65 | $40.61 | +$21,476 |
| Step 8 | $87,105 | $3,350.19 | $41.74 | +$22,072 |
| Step 9 | $89,460 | $3,440.77 | $42.87 | +$22,669 |
| Step 10 | $91,815 | $3,531.35 | $43.99 | +$23,266 |
2026 GS-9 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $70,623 | $2,716.27 | $33.84 | +$17,896 |
| Step 2 | $72,977 | $2,806.81 | $34.97 | +$18,492 |
| Step 3 | $75,332 | $2,897.38 | $36.10 | +$19,089 |
| Step 4 | $77,687 | $2,987.96 | $37.22 | +$19,686 |
| Step 5 | $80,041 | $3,078.50 | $38.35 | +$20,282 |
| Step 6 | $82,396 | $3,169.08 | $39.48 | +$20,879 |
| Step 7 | $84,751 | $3,259.65 | $40.61 | +$21,476 |
| Step 8 | $87,105 | $3,350.19 | $41.74 | +$22,072 |
| Step 9 | $89,460 | $3,440.77 | $42.87 | +$22,669 |
| Step 10 | $91,815 | $3,531.35 | $43.99 | +$23,266 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-9 in Washington DC: what to expect
Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.
For 2026, the Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,716 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,531. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-9 in Washington DC questions
-
How much does a GS-9 make in Washington DC?
In 2026, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $70,623 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $91,815. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-9 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2026, it is 33.94%. On a GS-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,896 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,716 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.