GS-9 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$70,615 – $91,794 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-9 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-9 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $70,615 | $5,885 | $2,716 | $33.84 | $52,721 | +$17,894 |
| Step 2 | $72,968 | $6,081 | $2,806 | $34.96 | $54,478 | +$18,490 |
| Step 3 | $75,321 | $6,277 | $2,897 | $36.09 | $56,235 | +$19,086 |
| Step 4 | $77,674 | $6,473 | $2,987 | $37.22 | $57,992 | +$19,682 |
| Step 5 | $80,028 | $6,669 | $3,078 | $38.35 | $59,749 | +$20,279 |
| Step 6 | $82,381 | $6,865 | $3,169 | $39.47 | $61,506 | +$20,875 |
| Step 7 | $84,734 | $7,061 | $3,259 | $40.60 | $63,263 | +$21,471 |
| Step 8 | $87,088 | $7,257 | $3,350 | $41.73 | $65,020 | +$22,068 |
| Step 9 | $89,441 | $7,453 | $3,440 | $42.86 | $66,777 | +$22,664 |
| Step 10 | $91,794 | $7,650 | $3,531 | $43.98 | $68,534 | +$23,260 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-9 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-8 to GS-9 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $7,560 per year.
GS-9 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-9 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $70,615 and $91,794 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-9 base pay of $52,721 to $68,534.
The Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area covers District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. At Step 5, a GS-9 employee here earns $10,086 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, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA 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-9 Step 1 in this area is $2,716, or approximately $33.84 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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