2026 GS Pay Scale in Houston
Locality-adjusted federal General Schedule salaries for the Houston-The Woodlands, TX pay area. Base rates plus the 35% Houston locality adjustment, effective January 2026.
🏛️ Source: Base rates from U.S. OPM Salary Table 2026-GS; the 35% locality adjustment is the official 2026 rate for the Houston-The Woodlands, TX area. Public government record.
35%
Locality adjustment
$103,225
GS-12 Step 1 here
$122,749
GS-13 Step 1 here
$221,806
GS-15 Step 10 (top)
2026 GS pay table for Houston (Step 1, 5, 10)
Locality-adjusted salaries by grade. Every grade has 10 steps; entry, mid, and top shown.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $30,488 | $34,545 | $38,135 |
| GS-2 | $34,281 | $37,608 | $43,137 |
| GS-3 | $37,406 | $42,395 | $48,632 |
| GS-4 | $41,989 | $47,589 | $54,589 |
| GS-5 | $46,979 | $53,243 | $61,073 |
| GS-6 | $52,368 | $59,350 | $68,078 |
| GS-7 | $58,193 | $65,953 | $75,653 |
| GS-8 | $64,446 | $73,038 | $83,777 |
| GS-9 | $71,181 | $80,675 | $92,541 |
| GS-10 | $78,386 | $88,835 | $101,897 |
| GS-11 | $86,123 | $97,609 | $111,966 |
| GS-12 | $103,225 | $116,990 | $134,195 |
| GS-13 | $122,749 | $139,116 | $159,575 |
| GS-14 | $145,052 | $164,395 | $188,573 |
| GS-15 | $170,618 | $193,369 | $221,806 |
Take-home pay in Houston after taxes
Estimated take-home on the locality-adjusted salary (single filer, federal tax + Social Security + Medicare; TX state tax does not apply (no state income tax)):
| Grade / Step | Salary | Take-home (no state) | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 Step 1 | $46,979 | ~$39,732 | ~$3,311 |
| GS-7 Step 1 | $58,193 | ~$48,742 | ~$4,062 |
| GS-9 Step 1 | $71,181 | ~$58,235 | ~$4,853 |
| GS-11 Step 1 | $86,123 | ~$68,747 | ~$5,729 |
| GS-12 Step 1 | $103,225 | ~$80,778 | ~$6,732 |
| GS-13 Step 1 | $122,749 | ~$94,360 | ~$7,863 |
Take-home excludes state/local income tax — and TX has no state income tax, so these are close to your real take-home, FERS retirement, and TSP. Use our after-tax calculator for a full picture.
See your exact Houston take-home
Add your grade, step, state, and deductions for a personalized net pay estimate.
Try the calculator →