GS-3 Pay in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
$37,170 – $48,326 per year • 34.15% locality adjustment
GS-3 Salary Summary — Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Complete GS-3 Pay Table — Houston-The Woodlands, TX (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,170 | $3,098 | $1,430 | $17.81 | $27,708 | +$9,462 |
| Step 2 | $38,410 | $3,201 | $1,477 | $18.40 | $28,632 | +$9,778 |
| Step 3 | $39,649 | $3,304 | $1,525 | $19.00 | $29,556 | +$10,093 |
| Step 4 | $40,889 | $3,407 | $1,573 | $19.59 | $30,480 | +$10,409 |
| Step 5 | $42,128 | $3,511 | $1,620 | $20.19 | $31,404 | +$10,724 |
| Step 6 | $43,368 | $3,614 | $1,668 | $20.78 | $32,328 | +$11,040 |
| Step 7 | $44,608 | $3,717 | $1,716 | $21.37 | $33,252 | +$11,356 |
| Step 8 | $45,847 | $3,821 | $1,763 | $21.97 | $34,176 | +$11,671 |
| Step 9 | $47,087 | $3,924 | $1,811 | $22.56 | $35,100 | +$11,987 |
| Step 10 | $48,326 | $4,027 | $1,859 | $23.16 | $36,024 | +$12,302 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
How does GS-3 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-2 to GS-3 at Step 5 in Houston-The Woodlands, TX is a raise of $4,756 per year.
GS-3 Federal Jobs in Houston-The Woodlands, TX
Federal employees at GS-3 in the Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality area earn between $37,170 and $48,326 annually in 2026. This includes a 34.15% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-3 base pay of $27,708 to $36,024.
The Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality area covers Texas. At Step 5, a GS-3 employee here earns $5,366 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-3 Step 1 in this area is $1,430, or approximately $17.81 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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