GS-15 Pay — Houston-The Woodlands (2026)
This page shows GS-15 pay in the Houston-The Woodlands locality pay area for 2026. The Houston-The Woodlands area adds 35% in locality pay on top of the GS-15 base rate.
| Step | Annual | Hourly | Bi-weekly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $170,618 | $81.75 | $6,540.00 |
| Step 2 | $176,306 | $84.48 | $6,758.40 |
| Step 3 | $181,994 | $87.20 | $6,976.00 |
| Step 4 | $187,681 | $89.93 | $7,194.40 |
| Step 5 | $193,369 | $92.65 | $7,412.00 |
| Step 6 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 7 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 8 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 9 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
| Step 10 | $197,200 * | $94.49 | $7,559.20 |
* Capped at Level IV of the Executive Schedule ($197,200 in 2026) — GS locality-adjusted pay cannot exceed the EX-IV cap (5 U.S.C. §5304(g)(1)).
Locality pay is calculated as the base rate multiplied by one plus the locality percentage, rounded to the nearest dollar.
Check another grade, step or locality
| Base pay (before locality) | $143,236 |
| Houston-The Woodlands, TX locality | 35% |
| Adjusted annual | $193,369 |
| Per month | $16,114 |
| Bi-weekly | $7,412.00 |
| Hourly | $92.65 |
Adjusted = base × (1 + locality %), rounded to the nearest dollar. Hourly = annual ÷ 2087; bi-weekly = hourly × 80.
Related pay tables
- Full Houston-The Woodlands GS scale
- GS-15 in every locality
- GS-14 in Houston-The Woodlands
- GS-15 in Rest of U.S.
- GS-15 in Washington-Baltimore
- GS-15 in New York-Newark
Frequently asked questions
How much does GS-15 make in Houston-The Woodlands?
For 2026, GS-15 in Houston-The Woodlands ranges from $170,618 at the first step to $197,200 at the top step, with $193,369 near the middle.
How is Houston-The Woodlands locality pay calculated?
The GS-15 base rate is multiplied by one plus the Houston-The Woodlands locality percentage of 35%, then rounded to the nearest dollar.
What is the 2026 raise?
For 2026, the across-the-board base rate rose while locality percentages were held at their prior-year levels, so the Houston-The Woodlands rate remained 35%.
Is this before or after tax?
The GS-15 figures for Houston-The Woodlands are gross 2026 amounts, before tax and withholding.
Source: OPM Salary Table 2026-HOU · effective January 11, 2026 · Houston-The Woodlands, TX, 35% locality. Rates current as of July 20, 2026. Reference figures for general information — official pay is set by your agency, DFAS or OPM. See methodology.