2026 GS pay in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay area
In 2026, General Schedule employees in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality pay area receive a locality payment of 35.00% on top of base pay, the 4th highest of OPM's 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 is $103,225 a year here against $76,463 in the base table, and GS-15 step 10 is $197,200, limited to Executive Schedule level IV. The table incorporates the 1% General Schedule increase and is effective January 2026 (first pay period ).
Source: OPM, Salary Table 2026-HOU (XML, SHA-256 abdb90649b23…) and locality pay area definitions, fetched .
At a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| OPM table code | HOU |
| Locality payment, 2026 | 35.00% (rank 4 of 58) |
| GS-5 step 1 | $46,979 a year, $22.51 an hour |
| GS-9 step 1 | $71,181 a year, $34.11 an hour |
| GS-13 step 1 | $122,749 a year, $58.82 an hour |
| Cells at the statutory cap | 5 (GS-15; $197,200) |
| States in the area | TX |
Annual rates, 2026
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $30,488 | $31,510 | $32,524 | $33,534 | $34,545 | $35,138 | $36,141 | $37,151 | $37,193 | $38,135 |
| GS-2 | $34,281 | $35,096 | $36,233 | $37,193 | $37,608 | $38,714 | $39,820 | $40,925 | $42,031 | $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* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)).
Hourly rates, 2026
Hourly basic rates as OPM publishes them (annual rate divided by 2,087, rounded to the cent).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $14.61 | $15.10 | $15.58 | $16.07 | $16.55 | $16.84 | $17.32 | $17.80 | $17.82 | $18.27 |
| GS-2 | $16.43 | $16.82 | $17.36 | $17.82 | $18.02 | $18.55 | $19.08 | $19.61 | $20.14 | $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* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)).
Law enforcement officer (LEO) table, 2026
OPM's Salary Table 2026-HOU (LEO) applies the same 35.00% locality payment to the special base rates for law enforcement officers at grades 3 to 10: GS-3 step 1 is $44,890 for an LEO here against $37,406 on the GS table, and GS-10 step 1 is $80,999 against $78,386. Grades 1, 2 and 11 to 15 are the same figures as the GS table above, including the 5 GS-15 cells OPM limits to Executive Schedule level IV. Source: OPM, HOU (LEO).xml (37,093 bytes, SHA-256 c81c905fbcd1…), fetched .
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $30,488 | $31,510 | $32,524 | $33,534 | $34,545 | $35,138 | $36,141 | $37,151 | $37,193 | $38,135 |
| GS-2 | $34,281 | $35,096 | $36,233 | $37,193 | $37,608 | $38,714 | $39,820 | $40,925 | $42,031 | $43,137 |
| GS-3 | $44,890 | $46,138 | $47,385 | $48,632 | $49,880 | $51,127 | $52,375 | $53,622 | $54,869 | $56,117 |
| GS-4 | $50,389 | $51,789 | $53,189 | $54,589 | $55,989 | $57,389 | $58,788 | $60,188 | $61,588 | $62,988 |
| GS-5 | $57,941 | $59,507 | $61,073 | $62,639 | $64,205 | $65,771 | $67,337 | $68,903 | $70,469 | $72,035 |
| GS-6 | $61,096 | $62,841 | $64,587 | $66,332 | $68,078 | $69,823 | $71,569 | $73,314 | $75,060 | $76,806 |
| GS-7 | $65,953 | $67,893 | $69,833 | $71,773 | $73,713 | $75,653 | $77,593 | $79,533 | $81,473 | $83,412 |
| GS-8 | $68,742 | $70,890 | $73,038 | $75,186 | $77,333 | $79,481 | $81,629 | $83,777 | $85,925 | $88,073 |
| GS-9 | $73,555 | $75,928 | $78,301 | $80,675 | $83,048 | $85,421 | $87,795 | $90,168 | $92,541 | $94,914 |
| GS-10 | $80,999 | $83,611 | $86,223 | $88,835 | $91,448 | $94,060 | $96,672 | $99,284 | $101,897 | $104,509 |
| 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* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* | $197,200* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)). Note: Locality rates for “law enforcement officers” (LEOs) (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103) are computed using special base rates for LEOs at grades 3 through 10, as authorized by section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as amended. The LEO annual locality rates at other grades match the rates for other (non-LEO) employees.
LEO hourly rates, 2026
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $14.61 | $15.10 | $15.58 | $16.07 | $16.55 | $16.84 | $17.32 | $17.80 | $17.82 | $18.27 |
| GS-2 | $16.43 | $16.82 | $17.36 | $17.82 | $18.02 | $18.55 | $19.08 | $19.61 | $20.14 | $20.67 |
| GS-3 | $21.51 | $22.11 | $22.70 | $23.30 | $23.90 | $24.50 | $25.10 | $25.69 | $26.29 | $26.89 |
| GS-4 | $24.14 | $24.82 | $25.49 | $26.16 | $26.83 | $27.50 | $28.17 | $28.84 | $29.51 | $30.18 |
| GS-5 | $27.76 | $28.51 | $29.26 | $30.01 | $30.76 | $31.51 | $32.26 | $33.02 | $33.77 | $34.52 |
| GS-6 | $29.27 | $30.11 | $30.95 | $31.78 | $32.62 | $33.46 | $34.29 | $35.13 | $35.97 | $36.80 |
| GS-7 | $31.60 | $32.53 | $33.46 | $34.39 | $35.32 | $36.25 | $37.18 | $38.11 | $39.04 | $39.97 |
| GS-8 | $32.94 | $33.97 | $35.00 | $36.03 | $37.05 | $38.08 | $39.11 | $40.14 | $41.17 | $42.20 |
| GS-9 | $35.24 | $36.38 | $37.52 | $38.66 | $39.79 | $40.93 | $42.07 | $43.20 | $44.34 | $45.48 |
| GS-10 | $38.81 | $40.06 | $41.31 | $42.57 | $43.82 | $45.07 | $46.32 | $47.57 | $48.82 | $50.08 |
| 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* |
OPM's note: * Rate limited to the rate for level IV of the Executive Schedule (5 U.S.C. 5304 (g)(1)). Note: Locality rates for “law enforcement officers” (LEOs) (as defined in 5 U.S.C. 5541(3) and 5 CFR 550.103) are computed using special base rates for LEOs at grades 3 through 10, as authorized by section 403 of the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990, as amended. The LEO annual locality rates at other grades match the rates for other (non-LEO) employees.
What the area covers
OPM's definition lists 19 entries for this area, by state, with the FIPS code OPM prints. The area is a combined statistical area plus the adjacent counties OPM's pay agent added; it is not the same boundary as a BLS metropolitan area.
Texas
- Austin County, TX (48015)
- Brazoria County, TX (48039)
- Chambers County, TX (48071)
- Colorado County, TX (48089)
- Fort Bend County, TX (48157)
- Galveston County, TX (48167)
- Grimes County, TX (48185)
- Harris County, TX (48201)
- Jackson County, TX (48239)
- Liberty County, TX (48291)
- Madison County, TX (48313)
- Matagorda County, TX (48321)
- Montgomery County, TX (48339)
- San Jacinto County, TX (48407)
- Trinity County, TX (48455)
- Walker County, TX (48471)
- Waller County, TX (48473)
- Washington County, TX (48477)
- Wharton County, TX (48481)
Wages outside government in the same places
- Texas wage profile: what occupations pay statewide, from BLS OEWS.
- Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX metro profile (the BLS metropolitan area that shares this area's first-named city; boundaries differ).
Related
- All 58 locality pay areas and the base table.
- GS pay by locality and step on FastCalc for a particular grade and step; this site computes nothing.
- How federal GS pay works.