GS-15 Pay in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
$169,552 – $197,200 per year • 34.15% locality adjustment
GS-15 Salary Summary — Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Complete GS-15 Pay Table — Houston-The Woodlands, TX (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $169,552 | $14,129 | $6,521 | $81.24 | $126,390 | +$43,162 |
| Step 2 | $175,204 | $14,600 | $6,739 | $83.95 | $130,603 | +$44,601 |
| Step 3 | $180,856 | $15,071 | $6,956 | $86.66 | $134,816 | +$46,040 |
| Step 4 | $186,507 | $15,542 | $7,173 | $89.37 | $139,029 | +$47,478 |
| Step 5 | $192,159 | $16,013 | $7,391 | $92.07 | $143,242 | +$48,917 |
| Step 6 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $147,455 | +$49,745 |
| Step 7 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $151,668 | +$45,532 |
| Step 8 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $155,881 | +$41,319 |
| Step 9 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $160,094 | +$37,106 |
| Step 10 | $197,200* | $16,433 | $7,585 | $94.49 | $164,307 | +$32,893 |
* Salary capped at Executive Schedule Level IV ($197,200). Actual calculated salary exceeds this cap.
Compare Nearby Grades in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
How does GS-15 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-14 to GS-15 at Step 5 in Houston-The Woodlands, TX is a raise of $28,805 per year.
GS-15 Federal Jobs in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Federal employees at GS-15 in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality area earn between $169,552 and $197,200 annually in 2026. This includes a 34.15% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-15 base pay of $126,390 to $164,307.
The Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality area covers Texas. At Step 5, a GS-15 employee here earns $24,480 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Houston-The Woodlands, TX compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-15 Step 1 in this area is $6,521, or approximately $81.24 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
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