GS-9 Take Home Pay 2026: What You Actually Bring Home
See what a GS-9 federal employee actually takes home after FERS pension, TSP, FEHB health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and federal & state income taxes. All 10 steps, top localities, and step increase timeline.
GS-9 Pay Table 2026 — All 10 Steps
| Step | Base Pay | RUS Salary | Gross/PP | Est. Net/PP | Est. Net/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $52,727 | $61,722 | $2,373.92 | $1,611.64 | $41,903 |
| 2 | $54,485 | $63,780 | $2,453.08 | $1,664.27 | $43,271 |
| 3 | $56,243 | $65,838 | $2,532.23 | $1,716.65 | $44,633 |
| 4 | $58,001 | $67,896 | $2,611.38 | $1,769.05 | $45,995 |
| 5 | $59,759 | $69,954 | $2,690.54 | $1,821.45 | $47,358 |
| 6 | $61,517 | $72,012 | $2,769.69 | $1,873.83 | $48,720 |
| 7 | $63,275 | $74,070 | $2,848.85 | $1,926.22 | $50,082 |
| 8 | $65,033 | $76,128 | $2,928.00 | $1,978.61 | $51,444 |
| 9 | $66,791 | $78,186 | $3,007.15 | $2,026.97 | $52,701 |
| 10 | $68,549 | $80,243 | $3,086.27 | $2,072.16 | $53,876 |
Estimates assume: Single filer, FERS-FRAE (4.4%), 5% Traditional TSP, average FEHB Self Only ($126.29/pp), DC state tax, no FEGLI. Your actual take-home will differ.
RUS = Rest of U.S. locality (17.06%). PP = biweekly pay period. Base pay from OPM 2026 GS Pay Tables. Locality rates per 5 U.S.C. §5304.
What Affects Your GS-9 Take Home Pay
Your GS-9 gross salary is just the starting point. Several mandatory and optional deductions determine what actually hits your bank account every two weeks.
FERS Pension: Federal employees contribute 0.8%, 3.1%, or 4.4% of gross pay depending on hire date. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2014 pay 4.4% under FERS-FRAE (5 U.S.C. §8422). This reduces your federal taxable income but does not reduce FICA wages.
TSP (Thrift Savings Plan): Your contribution percentage directly affects take-home pay. Traditional TSP reduces taxable income now; Roth TSP does not. The government matches up to 5% of basic pay through an automatic 1% contribution plus a tiered match (5 U.S.C. §8432(c)). Contributing at least 5% is widely considered essential to maximize this benefit.
FEHB Health Insurance: Federal employees pay their share of health insurance premiums pre-tax under Premium Conversion (26 U.S.C. §125). FEHB premiums reduce both federal taxable income AND FICA wages — this is different from FERS and TSP, which only reduce federal taxable income.
Social Security & Medicare: 6.2% Social Security tax applies to wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base), and 1.45% Medicare tax applies to all wages with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies above $200,000 for single filers (26 U.S.C. §3101).
Federal & State Income Tax: Federal tax uses the post-OBBBA brackets (P.L. 119-21) with 2026 inflation adjustments from Rev. Proc. 2025-32. State taxes vary significantly — nine states have no income tax, while others like California and New York have rates above 10%.
Locality Pay: Your locality adjustment is the single biggest factor in gross salary differences. The 58 GS locality pay areas range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Francisco). Higher locality pay means higher gross — but also higher taxes and usually higher cost of living.
GS-9 Pay by Locality — Top 5 Areas
| Locality Area | Adjustment | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 33.94% | $70,623 | $80,041 | $91,815 |
| San Francisco, CA | 46.34% | $77,161 | $87,451 | $100,315 |
| New York, NY | 37.95% | $72,737 | $82,438 | $94,563 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 36.47% | $71,957 | $81,553 | $93,549 |
| Houston, TX | 35.0% | $71,181 | $80,675 | $92,541 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $61,722 | $69,954 | $80,243 |
All values are annual gross salary. Source: OPM 2026 Locality Pay Tables. See all 58 locality areas in the full calculator.
GS-9 Step Increase Timeline
Within-grade increases (WGIs) are periodic pay raises within your GS grade, governed by 5 U.S.C. §5335. You must have acceptable performance to receive each increase. The waiting periods get longer at higher steps.
| Step Increase | Wait Period | Pay Raise | New Salary (RUS) | Time from Step 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 → 2 | 1 year | +$2,058 | $63,780 | 1 years |
| Step 2 → 3 | 1 year | +$2,058 | $65,838 | 2 years |
| Step 3 → 4 | 1 year | +$2,058 | $67,896 | 3 years |
| Step 4 → 5 | 2 years | +$2,058 | $69,954 | 5 years |
| Step 5 → 6 | 2 years | +$2,058 | $72,012 | 7 years |
| Step 6 → 7 | 2 years | +$2,058 | $74,070 | 9 years |
| Step 7 → 8 | 3 years | +$2,058 | $76,128 | 12 years |
| Step 8 → 9 | 3 years | +$2,058 | $78,186 | 15 years |
| Step 9 → 10 | 3 years | +$2,057 | $80,243 | 18 years |
Salary values shown for Rest of U.S. locality (17.06%). Total time from Step 1 to Step 10: 18 years. WGI rules per 5 U.S.C. §5335 and 5 CFR Part 531.
Frequently Asked Questions — GS-9 Pay
What is the GS-9 salary in 2026?
A GS-9 Step 1 employee earns $61,722 per year under the Rest of U.S. locality pay area (17.06% locality adjustment). At Step 10, a GS-9 earns $80,243 per year. Salaries vary by locality — employees in higher-cost areas like Washington DC, San Francisco, and New York earn more.
What is the actual take-home pay for a GS-9?
A GS-9 Step 1 in the Rest of U.S. locality area takes home approximately $1,612 per biweekly pay period after FERS pension (4.4% for FERS-FRAE), 5% Traditional TSP, FEHB health insurance, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and federal income tax. Actual take-home varies based on your specific benefits elections, state taxes, and filing status. Use our calculator for a personalized estimate.
How long does it take to go from GS-9 Step 1 to Step 10?
It takes 18 years of acceptable performance to advance from Step 1 to Step 10 within GS-9. Steps 1 through 4 increase every 1 year (52 weeks), Steps 4 through 7 increase every 2 years (104 weeks), and Steps 7 through 10 increase every 3 years (156 weeks). These within-grade increases (WGIs) are governed by 5 U.S.C. §5335.
What federal jobs are at the GS-9 level?
GS-9 positions typically include journey-level professional and technical positions. The career ladder is typically GS-9 through GS-12 (common 9/11/12 ladder). Common agencies hiring at this level include most federal departments and agencies.
Does GS-9 pay vary by location?
Yes. GS locality pay adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Francisco). A GS-9 Step 1 earns $61,722 in most areas but significantly more in high-cost areas. Washington DC adds 33.94%, New York adds 37.95%, and Los Angeles adds 36.47%. There are 58 locality pay areas plus the base rate.