GS Pay Scale 2026 Houston
Houston GS employees get 35.00% locality pay in 2026 under the Houston-The Woodlands, TX area, 17.94 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 4th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $103,225 a year ($49.46 per hour), $13,717 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $197,200 (GS-15 step 10).
Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). For your own grade, step and duty station use the GS pay calculator, or see how to read the GS pay scale. Looking for next year? See federal pay raise 2027.
Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources
GS pay scale 2026 Houston: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay area (35.00%). An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap and a dagger (†) marks a rate set by special rate table 001M.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $35,048† (special rate table 001M) | $35,772† (special rate table 001M) | $36,496† (special rate table 001M) | $37,220† (special rate table 001M) | $37,944† (special rate table 001M) | $38,668† (special rate table 001M) | $39,392† (special rate table 001M) | $40,116† (special rate table 001M) | $40,840† (special rate table 001M) | $41,564† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $35,749† (special rate table 001M) | $36,568† (special rate table 001M) | $37,387† (special rate table 001M) | $38,206† (special rate table 001M) | $39,025† (special rate table 001M) | $39,844† (special rate table 001M) | $40,663† (special rate table 001M) | $41,482† (special rate table 001M) | $42,301† (special rate table 001M) | $43,137 |
| GS-3 | $37,406 | $38,653 | $39,901 | $41,148 | $42,395 | $43,643 | $44,890 | $46,138 | $47,385 | $48,632 |
| GS-4 | $41,989 | $43,389 | $44,789 | $46,189 | $47,589 | $48,989 | $50,389 | $51,789 | $53,189 | $54,589 |
| GS-5 | $46,979 | $48,545 | $50,111 | $51,677 | $53,243 | $54,809 | $56,375 | $57,941 | $59,507 | $61,073 |
| GS-6 | $52,368 | $54,113 | $55,859 | $57,605 | $59,350 | $61,096 | $62,841 | $64,587 | $66,332 | $68,078 |
| GS-7 | $58,193 | $60,133 | $62,073 | $64,013 | $65,953 | $67,893 | $69,833 | $71,773 | $73,713 | $75,653 |
| GS-8 | $64,446 | $66,594 | $68,742 | $70,890 | $73,038 | $75,186 | $77,333 | $79,481 | $81,629 | $83,777 |
| GS-9 | $71,181 | $73,555 | $75,928 | $78,301 | $80,675 | $83,048 | $85,421 | $87,795 | $90,168 | $92,541 |
| GS-10 | $78,386 | $80,999 | $83,611 | $86,223 | $88,835 | $91,448 | $94,060 | $96,672 | $99,284 | $101,897 |
| GS-11 | $86,123 | $88,995 | $91,866 | $94,738 | $97,609 | $100,481 | $103,352 | $106,223 | $109,095 | $111,966 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $106,666 | $110,107 | $113,549 | $116,990 | $120,431 | $123,872 | $127,313 | $130,754 | $134,195 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $126,841 | $130,932 | $135,024 | $139,116 | $143,208 | $147,300 | $151,392 | $155,484 | $159,575 |
| GS-14 | $145,052 | $149,888 | $154,724 | $159,559 | $164,395 | $169,231 | $174,066 | $178,902 | $183,738 | $188,573 |
| GS-15 | $170,618 | $176,306 | $181,994 | $187,681 | $193,369 | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) |
Rates marked † are set by OPM special rate table 001M, which applies to all General Schedule employees whose worksite is in the United States when it pays more than the locality rate (5 U.S.C. 5305(h); 5 CFR 530.303(d)). In Houston it sets 19 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates; everywhere else in the table the locality rate from OPM's locality table applies. OPM special rate table 001M. Occupation-specific special rate tables are not included.
GS hourly pay 2026 Houston
Hourly pay is the annual rate divided by 2,087 and rounded to the cent, as OPM prints it. Multiply by 80 for the biweekly rate before deductions (5 U.S.C. 5504(b)).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $16.79† (special rate table 001M) | $17.14† (special rate table 001M) | $17.49† (special rate table 001M) | $17.83† (special rate table 001M) | $18.18† (special rate table 001M) | $18.53† (special rate table 001M) | $18.87† (special rate table 001M) | $19.22† (special rate table 001M) | $19.57† (special rate table 001M) | $19.92† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $17.13† (special rate table 001M) | $17.52† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.31† (special rate table 001M) | $18.70† (special rate table 001M) | $19.09† (special rate table 001M) | $19.48† (special rate table 001M) | $19.88† (special rate table 001M) | $20.27† (special rate table 001M) | $20.67 |
| GS-3 | $17.92 | $18.52 | $19.12 | $19.72 | $20.31 | $20.91 | $21.51 | $22.11 | $22.70 | $23.30 |
| GS-4 | $20.12 | $20.79 | $21.46 | $22.13 | $22.80 | $23.47 | $24.14 | $24.82 | $25.49 | $26.16 |
| GS-5 | $22.51 | $23.26 | $24.01 | $24.76 | $25.51 | $26.26 | $27.01 | $27.76 | $28.51 | $29.26 |
| GS-6 | $25.09 | $25.93 | $26.77 | $27.60 | $28.44 | $29.27 | $30.11 | $30.95 | $31.78 | $32.62 |
| GS-7 | $27.88 | $28.81 | $29.74 | $30.67 | $31.60 | $32.53 | $33.46 | $34.39 | $35.32 | $36.25 |
| GS-8 | $30.88 | $31.91 | $32.94 | $33.97 | $35.00 | $36.03 | $37.05 | $38.08 | $39.11 | $40.14 |
| GS-9 | $34.11 | $35.24 | $36.38 | $37.52 | $38.66 | $39.79 | $40.93 | $42.07 | $43.20 | $44.34 |
| GS-10 | $37.56 | $38.81 | $40.06 | $41.31 | $42.57 | $43.82 | $45.07 | $46.32 | $47.57 | $48.82 |
| GS-11 | $41.27 | $42.64 | $44.02 | $45.39 | $46.77 | $48.15 | $49.52 | $50.90 | $52.27 | $53.65 |
| GS-12 | $49.46 | $51.11 | $52.76 | $54.41 | $56.06 | $57.71 | $59.35 | $61.00 | $62.65 | $64.30 |
| GS-13 | $58.82 | $60.78 | $62.74 | $64.70 | $66.66 | $68.62 | $70.58 | $72.54 | $74.50 | $76.46 |
| GS-14 | $69.50 | $71.82 | $74.14 | $76.45 | $78.77 | $81.09 | $83.40 | $85.72 | $88.04 | $90.36 |
| GS-15 | $81.75 | $84.48 | $87.20 | $89.93 | $92.65 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Houston compared with Rest of U.S.
- Houston has the 4th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (35.00%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Houston runs from $103,225 at step 1 to $134,195 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Houston first reaches $100,000 at GS-10 step 10 ($101,897).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 5 rates in Houston, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 19 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Houston; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $30,488.
| Grade, step 1 | Houston | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $46,979 | $40,736 | +$6,243 |
| GS-7 | $58,193 | $50,460 | +$7,733 |
| GS-9 | $71,181 | $61,722 | +$9,459 |
| GS-11 | $86,123 | $74,678 | +$11,445 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $89,508 | +$13,717 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $106,437 | +$16,312 |
| GS-14 | $145,052 | $125,776 | +$19,276 |
| GS-15 | $170,618 | $147,945 | +$22,673 |
Counties in the Houston pay area
The Houston-The Woodlands, TX area covers the 19 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Texas: Austin County, TX; Brazoria County, TX; Chambers County, TX; Colorado County, TX; Fort Bend County, TX; Galveston County, TX; Grimes County, TX; Harris County, TX; Jackson County, TX; Liberty County, TX; Madison County, TX; Matagorda County, TX; Montgomery County, TX; San Jacinto County, TX; Trinity County, TX; Walker County, TX; Waller County, TX; Washington County, TX; Wharton County, TX
GS pay scale pages
Houston GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Houston in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Houston pays $103,225 a year in 2026, which is $49.46 per hour or $3,956.80 biweekly before deductions, at 35.00% locality pay. Step 10 pays $134,195. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Houston pays $13,717 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Houston in 2026?
Houston is in OPM's Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay area, which gets 35.00% in 2026, the 4th highest of 58 areas and 17.94 points above Rest of U.S. at 17.06%. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
How much does a GS-7 make in Houston in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Houston runs from $58,193 at step 1 ($27.88 per hour) to $75,653 at step 10 ($36.25 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Houston in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Houston runs from $71,181 at step 1 ($34.11 per hour) to $92,541 at step 10 ($44.34 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Houston in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Houston runs from $122,749 at step 1 to $159,575 at step 10. At step 1 that is $16,312 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Houston in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Houston: $197,200 a year ($94.49 per hour), limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap. The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Houston?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 19 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Houston (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 9, GS-3: 0, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $30,488.
Which counties are in the Houston GS locality pay area?
OPM's Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay area covers 19 counties and places in Texas. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Houston GS pay change in 2027?
The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so every rate on this page is a 2026 rate. Step increases and promotions are separate from the annual raise.
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.