GS-9 Pay Scale 2026

GS-9 base pay in 2026 runs from $52,727 at step 1 to $68,549 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $61,722 (Rest of U.S.) to $77,161 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $80,243 (Rest of U.S.) to $100,315 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). New to the table? See how to read the GS pay scale or use the GS pay calculator for your own grade, step and locality.

Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources

GS-9 pay by step

Base pay and the Rest of U.S. rate at each step, with hourly and biweekly pay and the wait for the next step.

GS-9 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$52,727$61,722$29.57$2,365.6052 weeks
Step 2$54,485+$1,758$63,780$30.56$2,444.8052 weeks
Step 3$56,243+$1,758$65,838$31.55$2,524.0052 weeks
Step 4$58,001+$1,758$67,896$32.53$2,602.40104 weeks
Step 5$59,759+$1,758$69,954$33.52$2,681.60104 weeks
Step 6$61,517+$1,758$72,012$34.51$2,760.80104 weeks
Step 7$63,275+$1,758$74,070$35.49$2,839.20156 weeks
Step 8$65,033+$1,758$76,128$36.48$2,918.40156 weeks
Step 9$66,791+$1,758$78,186$37.46$2,996.80156 weeks
Step 10$68,549+$1,758$80,243$38.45$3,076.00Top step

GS-9 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($52,727) to step 10 ($68,549).
  • GS-10 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($67,970) is $12,273 below GS-9 step 10 ($80,243).
  • 1 of 58 areas pay GS-9 $100,000 or more at step 10; none do at step 1.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $15,439 at step 1 and $20,072 at step 10.
  • No GS-9 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $100,315 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-9 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $61,722 (Rest of U.S.) to $77,161 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $80,243 (Rest of U.S.) to $100,315 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-9 pay by locality

Annual pay in all 58 locality pay areas, highest locality percentage first. An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap.

GS-9 annual pay at step 1 and step 10 in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaLocality %Step 1Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA46.34%$77,161$100,315
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$72,737$94,563
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$71,957$93,549
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$71,181$92,541
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$70,623$91,815
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$70,507$91,664
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$69,905$90,882
State of Alaska32.36%$69,789$90,731
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$69,642$90,540
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$69,373$90,190
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$68,999$89,703
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$68,819$89,470
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$68,419$88,949
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$68,081$88,510
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$68,013$88,421
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$67,290$87,482
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$67,100$87,235
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$66,505$86,461
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$65,735$85,460
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$65,271$84,857
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$64,564$83,938
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$64,548$83,918
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$64,543$83,911
Richmond, VA22.28%$64,475$83,822
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$64,453$83,794
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$64,448$83,787
State of Hawaii22.21%$64,438$83,774
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$64,406$83,733
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$64,290$83,582
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$64,279$83,568
Laredo, TX21.59%$64,111$83,349
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$64,021$83,232
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$63,815$82,965
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$63,678$82,787
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$63,457$82,499
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$63,351$82,362
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$63,288$82,279
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$63,098$82,033
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$63,046$81,964
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$62,982$81,882
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$62,972$81,868
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$62,893$81,765
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$62,729$81,553
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$62,708$81,525
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$62,640$81,436
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$62,629$81,423
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$62,392$81,114
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$62,344$81,052
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$62,339$81,045
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$62,297$80,991
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$62,223$80,895
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$62,181$80,840
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$62,155$80,806
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$62,044$80,662
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$62,033$80,648
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$62,023$80,634
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$61,965$80,559
Rest of U.S.17.06%$61,722$80,243
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-9 annual pay at every step in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$77,161$79,733$82,306$84,879$87,451$90,024$92,597$95,169$97,742$100,315
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$72,737$75,162$77,587$80,012$82,438$84,863$87,288$89,713$92,138$94,563
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$71,957$74,356$76,755$79,154$81,553$83,952$86,351$88,751$91,150$93,549
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$71,181$73,555$75,928$78,301$80,675$83,048$85,421$87,795$90,168$92,541
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$70,623$72,977$75,332$77,687$80,041$82,396$84,751$87,105$89,460$91,815
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$70,507$72,857$75,208$77,559$79,910$82,261$84,611$86,962$89,313$91,664
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$69,905$72,236$74,567$76,898$79,228$81,559$83,890$86,221$88,552$90,882
State of Alaska$69,789$72,116$74,443$76,770$79,097$81,424$83,751$86,078$88,405$90,731
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$69,642$71,964$74,286$76,608$78,930$81,252$83,574$85,896$88,218$90,540
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$69,373$71,686$73,999$76,312$78,625$80,938$83,251$85,564$87,877$90,190
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$68,999$71,299$73,600$75,900$78,201$80,501$82,802$85,102$87,403$89,703
Denver-Aurora, CO$68,819$71,114$73,408$75,703$77,997$80,292$82,587$84,881$87,176$89,470
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$68,419$70,700$72,981$75,262$77,543$79,824$82,106$84,387$86,668$88,949
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$68,081$70,351$72,621$74,891$77,161$79,431$81,701$83,971$86,241$88,510
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$68,013$70,280$72,548$74,815$77,083$79,351$81,618$83,886$86,154$88,421
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$67,290$69,534$71,777$74,021$76,264$78,508$80,752$82,995$85,239$87,482
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$67,100$69,338$71,575$73,812$76,049$78,287$80,524$82,761$84,998$87,235
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$66,505$68,722$70,939$73,157$75,374$77,591$79,809$82,026$84,243$86,461
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$65,735$67,926$70,118$72,310$74,502$76,693$78,885$81,077$83,268$85,460
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$65,271$67,447$69,623$71,799$73,976$76,152$78,328$80,504$82,681$84,857
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$64,564$66,717$68,870$71,022$73,175$75,328$77,480$79,633$81,786$83,938
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$64,548$66,701$68,853$71,005$73,157$75,309$77,461$79,613$81,766$83,918
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$64,543$66,695$68,847$70,999$73,151$75,303$77,455$79,607$81,759$83,911
Richmond, VA$64,475$66,624$68,774$70,924$73,073$75,223$77,373$79,522$81,672$83,822
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$64,453$66,602$68,751$70,900$73,049$75,198$77,347$79,496$81,645$83,794
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$64,448$66,597$68,746$70,895$73,043$75,192$77,341$79,490$81,639$83,787
State of Hawaii$64,438$66,586$68,735$70,883$73,031$75,180$77,328$79,477$81,625$83,774
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$64,406$66,553$68,701$70,848$72,996$75,143$77,290$79,438$81,585$83,733
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$64,290$66,434$68,577$70,721$72,864$75,008$77,151$79,295$81,438$83,582
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$64,279$66,423$68,566$70,709$72,852$74,995$77,139$79,282$81,425$83,568
Laredo, TX$64,111$66,248$68,386$70,523$72,661$74,799$76,936$79,074$81,211$83,349
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$64,021$66,156$68,290$70,425$72,559$74,694$76,829$78,963$81,098$83,232
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$63,815$65,943$68,071$70,199$72,326$74,454$76,582$78,709$80,837$82,965
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$63,678$65,802$67,925$70,048$72,171$74,294$76,417$78,540$80,663$82,787
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$63,457$65,573$67,688$69,804$71,920$74,036$76,151$78,267$80,383$82,499
Colorado Springs, CO$63,351$65,464$67,576$69,688$71,800$73,913$76,025$78,137$80,249$82,362
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$63,288$65,398$67,508$69,619$71,729$73,839$75,949$78,059$80,169$82,279
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$63,098$65,202$67,306$69,410$71,514$73,617$75,721$77,825$79,929$82,033
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$63,046$65,148$67,250$69,352$71,454$73,556$75,658$77,760$79,862$81,964
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$62,982$65,082$67,182$69,282$71,382$73,482$75,582$77,682$79,782$81,882
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$62,972$65,071$67,171$69,271$71,370$73,470$75,569$77,669$79,768$81,868
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$62,893$64,990$67,087$69,184$71,281$73,377$75,474$77,571$79,668$81,765
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$62,729$64,821$66,912$69,004$71,095$73,187$75,278$77,370$79,461$81,553
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$62,708$64,799$66,890$68,981$71,071$73,162$75,253$77,344$79,435$81,525
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$62,640$64,728$66,817$68,905$70,994$73,082$75,171$77,259$79,348$81,436
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$62,629$64,717$66,805$68,894$70,982$73,070$75,158$77,246$79,334$81,423
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$62,392$64,472$66,552$68,633$70,713$72,793$74,873$76,954$79,034$81,114
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$62,344$64,423$66,502$68,580$70,659$72,738$74,816$76,895$78,974$81,052
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$62,339$64,418$66,496$68,575$70,653$72,732$74,810$76,889$78,967$81,045
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$62,297$64,374$66,451$68,528$70,605$72,682$74,759$76,836$78,914$80,991
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$62,223$64,298$66,372$68,447$70,522$72,596$74,671$76,745$78,820$80,895
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$62,181$64,254$66,327$68,401$70,474$72,547$74,620$76,693$78,767$80,840
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$62,155$64,227$66,299$68,372$70,444$72,516$74,589$76,661$78,733$80,806
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$62,044$64,112$66,181$68,250$70,318$72,387$74,456$76,524$78,593$80,662
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$62,033$64,102$66,170$68,238$70,306$72,375$74,443$76,511$78,580$80,648
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$62,023$64,091$66,159$68,227$70,295$72,362$74,430$76,498$78,566$80,634
Reno-Fernley, NV$61,965$64,031$66,097$68,163$70,229$72,295$74,361$76,427$78,493$80,559
Rest of U.S.$61,722$63,780$65,838$67,896$69,954$72,012$74,070$76,128$78,186$80,243

No GS-9 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-9 hourly and biweekly pay

Hourly and biweekly rates for Rest of U.S., Washington and the largest metro areas, at the first and last step.

GS-9 hourly and biweekly pay in the largest locality pay areas, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1 hourlyStep 1 biweeklyStep 10 hourlyStep 10 biweekly
Rest of U.S.$29.57$2,365.60$38.45$3,076.00
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$33.84$2,707.20$43.99$3,519.20
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$34.85$2,788.00$45.31$3,624.80
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$34.48$2,758.40$44.82$3,585.60
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$33.06$2,644.80$42.98$3,438.40
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$36.97$2,957.60$48.07$3,845.60

GS-9 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $18,521 a year in Rest of U.S. at 2026 rates. Waiting periods follow 5 CFR 531.405; the GS pay calculator dates your own next increase.

GS-9 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$1,758+$2,058
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$1,758+$2,057

Promotion examples

Examples for a step 5 employee in Rest of U.S. under the two-step promotion rule. Your own result depends on your step, locality and pay history.

  • Into GS-9: GS-8 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($63,332) promoted to GS-9 lands at step 4 ($67,896), a raise of $4,564 a year.
  • Out of GS-9: GS-9 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($69,954) promoted to GS-10 lands at step 4 ($74,765), a raise of $4,811 a year.
  • Two-grade promotion: GS-9 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($69,954) promoted to GS-11 lands at step 1 ($74,678), a raise of $4,724 a year.

GS-9 pay questions

How much does a GS-9 make in 2026?

GS-9 base pay is $52,727 at step 1 and $68,549 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $61,722 to $80,243. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $61,722 (Rest of U.S.) to $77,161 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $80,243 (Rest of U.S.) to $100,315 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-9 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-9 pay is $70,623 at step 1 and $91,815 at step 10, or $33.84 to $43.99 per hour.

How much does a GS-9 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-9 pay there is $77,161 at step 1 and $100,315 at step 10, or $36.97 to $48.07 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-9 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-9 step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks, or 18 years, with three increases after 52 weeks, three after 104 weeks and three after 156 weeks. Base pay rises $1,758 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $18,521 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($61,722 to $80,243).

What is the GS-9 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-9 hourly rate is $29.57 at step 1 and $38.45 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $2,365.60 to $3,076.00 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $33.84 per hour.

Will GS-9 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-9 rates on this page are 2026 only. Step increases are separate from the annual raise. See federal pay raise 2027 for the status.

Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.