GRADE & STEP GUIDE

GS Step 9 Pay Guide

Step 9 appears within each GS grade. The dollar value changes with the grade and, for locality-adjusted pay, the duty station.

What Step 9 means

Step 9 is the ninth pay point within each General Schedule grade. It does not represent a separate grade or job level. In the 2026 base table, Step 9 ranges from $27,550 at GS-1 to $160,088 at GS-15 before locality adjustments.

The dollar value of Step 9 changes with the grade. That is why a search for “Step 9 salary” is incomplete unless the GS grade is also known. The table above lets you compare the same step across GS-1 through GS-15.

For normal within-grade progression, the waiting period associated with moving beyond this part of the step ladder is commonly 156 weeks, subject to eligibility and performance requirements. Always use current OPM rules and agency guidance for an actual personnel action.

A step value in the national base table is not necessarily the employee’s payable annual salary. Eligible employees in covered U.S. duty stations generally use an applicable locality table, and some occupations can be covered by higher special rates.

When comparing Step 9 between locations, keep the grade constant. For example, compare GS-12 Step 9 in two locality areas rather than comparing different grades and locations at the same time. That isolates the effect of locality pay.

Promotions and within-grade increases are different actions. A promotion changes grade, while a within-grade increase changes step within the same grade. Federal pay-setting rules determine the resulting rate; a simple percentage shortcut can give the wrong answer.

Monthly and biweekly equivalents are useful for personal planning, but federal payroll is based on official salary and pay-period rules. Deductions and benefits can make actual net pay substantially different from a simple annual-salary conversion.

Use the linked grade pages to see every step within a specific GS grade, then use the locality directory if you need the location-adjusted table for the employee’s official duty station.