Houston-The Woodlands, TX GS Pay Scale 2026
The 2026 General Schedule locality adjustment for duty stations in Houston-The Woodlands, TX is +35.00%, applied on top of OPM's official 2026 GS base pay table, capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200). This page covers all 15 GS grades and all 10 within-grade steps for this specific locality pay area.
Last updated: · Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-GS · Executive Order 14368
Calculate Any Grade & Step for Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Select your exact GS Grade and Step to open the full interactive calculator pre-loaded for this locality.
Spotlight: GS-5, GS-9, GS-13, GS-15 Across All 10 Steps (Houston-The Woodlands, TX)
Click any salary to calculateBuild-time pre-computed adjusted annual salaries for Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%). Values capped at EX-IV $197,200. Click any salary to load overtime, biweekly check, and FERS pension estimates in the interactive engine.
⛔ Cell flagged amber when the unadjusted locality-adjusted salary would exceed the $197,200 Executive Schedule Level IV cap.
Quick Reference: Step 1 Across 5 Common Comparison Points
Compare Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%) against Rest of U.S., Washington DC, and San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland at GS-5, GS-9, GS-11, GS-12, and GS-13 Step 1.
| Grade (Step 1) | Base Pay | Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%) | RUS (+17.06%) | DC (+33.94%) | SF (+46.34%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5↗ | $34,799 | $46,979 | $40,736 | $46,610 | $50,925 |
| GS-9↗ | $52,727 | $71,181 | $61,722 | $70,623 | $77,161 |
| GS-11↗ | $63,795 | $86,123 | $74,678 | $85,447 | $93,358 |
| GS-12↗ | $76,463 | $103,225 | $89,508 | $102,415 | $111,896 |
| GS-13↗ | $90,925 | $122,749 | $106,437 | $121,785 | $133,060 |
Worked Examples (Houston-The Woodlands, TX)
Example A — Mid-Level Specialist (GS-9, Step 1) in Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $52,727.00. Locality Adjustment: $52,727 × 35.00% = $18,454.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $71,181.00. Applying the federal 2,087 divisor: $71,181.00 ÷ 2,087 = $34.11/hour. Biweekly Gross Check (80h): $34.11 × 80 = $2,728.80. Monthly Equivalent: $5,931.75.
Example B — Senior Specialist (GS-13, Step 5) in Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%)
Open in Live Engine ↗Base Salary: $103,049.00. Locality Adjustment: $103,049 × 35.00% = $36,067.00. Total Adjusted Annual Salary: $139,116.00. Hourly Rate: $139,116.00 ÷ 2,087 = $66.66/hour. Biweekly Gross Check: $66.66 × 80 = $5,332.80. Monthly Equivalent: $11,593.00.
Compare to Other Metros
The 6 OPM locality pay areas closest to Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%) by percentage.
All 58 OPM Locality Pay Areas
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Need Custom Overtime, FERS High-3, or LEO Rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX?
Launch our full interactive 2026 Federal Pay Calculator with real-time sliders, Title 5 statutory overtime cap enforcement, and copyable pay breakdown for all 58 localities.
Houston-The Woodlands, TX GS Pay FAQs
Common questions about federal GS pay, locality adjustments, and the EX-IV cap for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
How is the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay percentage calculated?
The Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%) locality pay percentage is derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Metropolitan Statistical Area wage surveys. OPM compares federal and non-federal pay in the area and caps the resulting differential at the national Employment Cost Index (ECI) to comply with 5 U.S.C. § 5304.
What is the highest GS grade I can reach in Houston-The Woodlands, TX before the EX-IV pay cap binds?
For Houston-The Woodlands, TX (+35.00%), the EX-IV cap binds starting at GS-15, Step 6. The highest GS grade and step combination that remains uncapped is GS-15, Step 5.
Does the 2026 1.0% raise apply to Houston-The Woodlands, TX?
Yes. The 2026 1.0% across-the-board base pay increase authorized by Executive Order 14368 applies uniformly to all 58 OPM locality pay areas, including Houston-The Woodlands, TX. Only the locality percentage differs between areas; the base GS pay table is identical.
Will Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay increase in 2027?
Locality percentages were frozen at 2025 levels for 2026. The 2027 locality percentages for Houston-The Woodlands, TX and the other 57 areas will depend on the President's Pay Agent decision following the Federal Salary Council recommendation in late 2026. Check back here after the December 2026 Executive Order for the official 2027 figures.