GS Pay Calculator San Antonio, TX 2026
Calculate your 2026 federal salary in the San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX locality area. Covers San Antonio, New Braunfels, Pearsall, and surrounding south-central Texas communities. Major military hub.
Calculate your 2026 federal salary in the San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX locality area. Covers San Antonio, New Braunfels, Pearsall, and surrounding south-central Texas communities. Major military hub.
The San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX locality rate of 17.75% ranks #45 out of 48 federal pay areas in 2026. This is among the lowest locality rates. The tradeoff is that San Antonio, TX generally has a lower cost of living than higher-paying areas. Rates range from 16.98% (Rest of U.S.) to 45.25% (San Jose, CA). Covers San Antonio, New Braunfels, Pearsall, and surrounding south-central Texas communities. Major military hub.
Major federal employers in San Antonio, TX include Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, VA, NSA Texas. Locality pay is based on your duty station, not where you live — so if you telework from San Antonio, TX but your office is in another pay area, your locality rate may differ.
Annual salaries for federal employees in the San Antonio, TX locality area, including locality pay adjustment. All figures reflect 2026 OPM rates.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $40,976 | $42,342 | $43,708 | $45,074 | $46,439 | $47,805 | $49,171 | $50,537 | $51,903 | $53,269 |
| GS-7 | $50,757 | $52,449 | $54,141 | $55,834 | $57,526 | $59,218 | $60,910 | $62,602 | $64,294 | $65,986 |
| GS-9 | $62,086 | $64,156 | $66,226 | $68,296 | $70,366 | $72,436 | $74,506 | $76,576 | $78,646 | $80,716 |
| GS-11 | $75,119 | $77,623 | $80,128 | $82,632 | $85,137 | $87,641 | $90,146 | $92,650 | $95,155 | $97,659 |
| GS-12 | $90,035 | $93,037 | $96,038 | $99,040 | $102,041 | $105,042 | $108,044 | $111,045 | $114,047 | $117,048 |
| GS-13 | $107,064 | $110,633 | $114,202 | $117,771 | $121,340 | $124,909 | $128,478 | $132,047 | $135,616 | $139,185 |
| GS-14 | $126,518 | $130,735 | $134,953 | $139,171 | $143,389 | $147,607 | $151,824 | $156,042 | $160,260 | $164,478 |
| GS-15 | $148,817 | $153,778 | $158,739 | $163,700 | $168,660 | $173,621 | $178,582 | $183,543 | $188,504 | $193,464 |
Use the interactive calculator below to find your specific grade, step, and pay breakdown. Pre-set to the San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX locality area.
About GS Pay
| Position | San Antonio, TX +17.75% | Houston, TX +32.55% | Austin, TX +19.51% | Dallas, TX +22.29% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-12 Step 1 | $90,035 | $101,352 +$11,317 | $91,381 +$1,346 | $93,507 +$3,472 |
| GS-12 Step 5 | $102,041 | $114,867 +$12,826 | $103,566 +$1,525 | $105,975 +$3,934 |
| GS-13 Step 5 | $121,340 | $136,591 +$15,251 | $123,154 +$1,814 | $126,019 +$4,679 |
| GS-15 Step 10 | $193,464 | $197,200* +$3,736 | $196,356 +$2,892 | $197,200* +$3,736 |
* Salary capped at Executive Level IV ($197,200 in 2026). Differences shown relative to San Antonio, TX.
At GS-12 Step 5, federal employees in Houston, TX earn $12,826 more per year than those in San Antonio, TX, while those in Austin, TX earn $1,525 more.
Here is how a typical federal career progresses in the San Antonio, TX locality area, assuming competitive promotions through the career ladder:
| Timeline | Position | San Antonio, TX Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | GS-7 Step 1 | $50,757 |
| Year 3 | GS-9 Step 1 | $62,086 |
| Year 5 | GS-11 Step 1 | $75,119 |
| Year 7 | GS-12 Step 3 | $96,038 |
| Year 12 | GS-13 Step 5 | $121,340 |
| Year 20 | GS-14 Step 10 | $164,478 |
Assumes career-ladder promotions every 2-3 years with satisfactory performance. Actual progression varies by position and agency.
Compare pay across all 49 locality areas.
Calculate your highest 3 consecutive years of pay for retirement.
Estimate your federal pension based on your high-3 salary.
Project your Thrift Savings Plan growth and withdrawals.
Estimate federal severance pay based on years of service.
Understand grades, steps, locality adjustments, and the pay cap.
A GS-12 in the San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX locality area earns between $90,035 (Step 1) and $117,048 (Step 10) in 2026, with the 17.75% locality adjustment applied.
The San Antonio, TX locality pay adjustment is 17.75% in 2026. This means a federal employee's base pay is multiplied by 1.1775 to determine their total salary. For example, a GS-12 Step 5 base of $86,659 becomes $102,041.
San Antonio, TX has a 17.75% locality rate. Nearby areas include Houston, TX (32.55%), Austin, TX (19.51%), Dallas, TX (22.29%). Use the comparison table above to see exact salary differences at each grade and step.
GS salaries in San Antonio, TX are capped at Executive Level IV: $197,200 in 2026. At 17.75% locality, GS-15 Step 10 earns $193,464, which is below the cap.
Major federal employers in the San Antonio, TX area include Lackland AFB, Fort Sam Houston, Randolph AFB, VA, NSA Texas. Covers San Antonio, New Braunfels, Pearsall, and surrounding south-central Texas communities. Major military hub.
Locality pay is based on where you work (duty station), not where you live. The Federal Salary Council recommends adjustments based on surveys comparing federal and private-sector pay in each area. The San Antonio, TX area at 17.75% reflects the local cost of labor.