GS-5 Pay Scale 2026

GS-5 base pay in 2026 runs from $34,799 at step 1 to $45,239 at step 10. With locality pay, step 1 ranges from $40,736 (Rest of U.S.) to $50,925 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $52,957 (Rest of U.S.) to $66,203 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). New to the table? See how to read the GS pay scale or use the GS pay calculator for your own grade, step and locality.

Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources

GS-5 pay by step

Base pay and the Rest of U.S. rate at each step, with hourly and biweekly pay and the wait for the next step.

GS-5 base pay and Rest of U.S. pay by step, 2026
StepBase payBase raiseRest of U.S. annualHourlyBiweeklyWait for next step
Step 1$34,799$40,736$19.52$1,561.6052 weeks
Step 2$35,959+$1,160$42,094$20.17$1,613.6052 weeks
Step 3$37,119+$1,160$43,452$20.82$1,665.6052 weeks
Step 4$38,279+$1,160$44,809$21.47$1,717.60104 weeks
Step 5$39,439+$1,160$46,167$22.12$1,769.60104 weeks
Step 6$40,599+$1,160$47,525$22.77$1,821.60104 weeks
Step 7$41,759+$1,160$48,883$23.42$1,873.60156 weeks
Step 8$42,919+$1,160$50,241$24.07$1,925.60156 weeks
Step 9$44,079+$1,160$51,599$24.72$1,977.60156 weeks
Step 10$45,239+$1,160$52,957$25.37$2,029.60Top step

GS-5 in numbers

  • Base pay rises 30.0% from step 1 ($34,799) to step 10 ($45,239).
  • GS-6 step 1 in Rest of U.S. ($45,409) is $7,548 below GS-5 step 10 ($52,957).
  • No area pays GS-5 $100,000 or more, even at step 10.
  • Moving from Rest of U.S. to San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA adds $10,189 at step 1 and $13,246 at step 10.
  • No GS-5 rate reaches the $197,200 cap; the highest is $66,203 at step 10 in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.

GS-5 pay range across localities

  • Step 1: from $40,736 (Rest of U.S.) to $50,925 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).
  • Step 10: from $52,957 (Rest of U.S.) to $66,203 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

GS-5 pay by locality

Annual pay in all 58 locality pay areas, highest locality percentage first. An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap.

GS-5 annual pay at step 1 and step 10 in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaLocality %Step 1Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA46.34%$50,925$66,203
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA37.95%$48,005$62,407
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA36.47%$47,490$61,738
Houston-The Woodlands, TX35.00%$46,979$61,073
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA33.94%$46,610$60,593
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA33.72%$46,533$60,494
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT32.58%$46,137$59,978
State of Alaska32.36%$46,060$59,878
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA32.08%$45,963$59,752
Seattle-Tacoma, WA31.57%$45,785$59,521
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI30.86%$45,538$59,200
Denver-Aurora, CO30.52%$45,420$59,046
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV29.76%$45,155$58,702
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI29.12%$44,932$58,413
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD28.99%$44,887$58,354
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI27.62%$44,410$57,734
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK27.26%$44,285$57,571
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA26.13%$43,892$57,060
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL24.67%$43,384$56,399
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL23.79%$43,078$56,001
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ22.45%$42,611$55,395
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI22.42%$42,601$55,382
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY22.41%$42,597$55,377
Richmond, VA22.28%$42,552$55,318
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC22.24%$42,538$55,300
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA22.23%$42,535$55,296
State of Hawaii22.21%$42,528$55,287
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH22.15%$42,507$55,259
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN21.93%$42,430$55,160
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN21.91%$42,423$55,151
Laredo, TX21.59%$42,312$55,006
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH21.42%$42,253$54,929
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV21.03%$42,117$54,753
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA20.77%$42,027$54,635
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX20.35%$41,881$54,445
Colorado Springs, CO20.15%$41,811$54,355
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL20.03%$41,769$54,300
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC19.67%$41,644$54,138
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ19.57%$41,609$54,092
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT19.45%$41,567$54,038
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA19.43%$41,560$54,029
Tucson-Nogales, AZ19.28%$41,508$53,961
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS18.97%$41,400$53,821
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL18.93%$41,386$53,803
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC18.80%$41,341$53,744
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX18.78%$41,334$53,735
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM18.33%$41,178$53,531
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL18.24%$41,146$53,491
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA18.23%$41,143$53,486
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN18.15%$41,115$53,450
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA18.01%$41,066$53,387
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL17.93%$41,038$53,350
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY17.88%$41,021$53,328
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID17.67%$40,948$53,233
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA17.65%$40,941$53,224
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX17.63%$40,934$53,215
Reno-Fernley, NV17.52%$40,896$53,165
Rest of U.S.17.06%$40,736$52,957
Show all 10 steps for every area
GS-5 annual pay at every step in every locality pay area, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1Step 2Step 3Step 4Step 5Step 6Step 7Step 8Step 9Step 10
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$50,925$52,622$54,320$56,017$57,715$59,413$61,110$62,808$64,505$66,203
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$48,005$49,605$51,206$52,806$54,406$56,006$57,607$59,207$60,807$62,407
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$47,490$49,073$50,656$52,239$53,822$55,405$56,989$58,572$60,155$61,738
Houston-The Woodlands, TX$46,979$48,545$50,111$51,677$53,243$54,809$56,375$57,941$59,507$61,073
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$46,610$48,163$49,717$51,271$52,825$54,378$55,932$57,486$59,039$60,593
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA$46,533$48,084$49,636$51,187$52,738$54,289$55,840$57,391$58,942$60,494
Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT$46,137$47,674$49,212$50,750$52,288$53,826$55,364$56,902$58,440$59,978
State of Alaska$46,060$47,595$49,131$50,666$52,201$53,737$55,272$56,808$58,343$59,878
Hartford-East Hartford, CT-MA$45,963$47,495$49,027$50,559$52,091$53,623$55,155$56,687$58,220$59,752
Seattle-Tacoma, WA$45,785$47,311$48,837$50,364$51,890$53,416$54,942$56,469$57,995$59,521
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$45,538$47,056$48,574$50,092$51,610$53,128$54,646$56,164$57,682$59,200
Denver-Aurora, CO$45,420$46,934$48,448$49,962$51,476$52,990$54,504$56,018$57,532$59,046
Sacramento-Roseville, CA-NV$45,155$46,660$48,166$49,671$51,176$52,681$54,186$55,692$57,197$58,702
Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor, MI$44,932$46,430$47,928$49,426$50,924$52,421$53,919$55,417$56,915$58,413
Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD$44,887$46,384$47,880$49,376$50,872$52,369$53,865$55,361$56,858$58,354
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN-WI$44,410$45,891$47,371$48,852$50,332$51,812$53,293$54,773$56,254$57,734
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX-OK$44,285$45,761$47,238$48,714$50,190$51,666$53,143$54,619$56,095$57,571
Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA$43,892$45,355$46,818$48,281$49,744$51,208$52,671$54,134$55,597$57,060
Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale, FL$43,384$44,830$46,276$47,722$49,169$50,615$52,061$53,507$54,953$56,399
Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL$43,078$44,514$45,950$47,386$48,822$50,258$51,693$53,129$54,565$56,001
Phoenix-Mesa, AZ$42,611$44,032$45,452$46,873$48,293$49,713$51,134$52,554$53,975$55,395
Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI$42,601$44,021$45,441$46,861$48,281$49,701$51,121$52,541$53,962$55,382
Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY$42,597$44,017$45,437$46,857$48,277$49,697$51,117$52,537$53,957$55,377
Richmond, VA$42,552$43,971$45,389$46,808$48,226$49,644$51,063$52,481$53,900$55,318
Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC$42,538$43,956$45,374$46,792$48,210$49,628$51,046$52,464$53,882$55,300
Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA$42,535$43,953$45,371$46,788$48,206$49,624$51,042$52,460$53,878$55,296
State of Hawaii$42,528$43,945$45,363$46,781$48,198$49,616$51,034$52,451$53,869$55,287
Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH$42,507$43,924$45,341$46,758$48,175$49,592$51,009$52,426$53,842$55,259
Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN$42,430$43,845$45,259$46,674$48,088$49,502$50,917$52,331$53,746$55,160
Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN$42,423$43,838$45,252$46,666$48,080$49,494$50,908$52,323$53,737$55,151
Laredo, TX$42,312$43,723$45,133$46,543$47,954$49,364$50,775$52,185$53,596$55,006
Dayton-Springfield-Kettering, OH$42,253$43,661$45,070$46,478$47,887$49,295$50,704$52,112$53,521$54,929
Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV$42,117$43,521$44,925$46,329$47,733$49,137$50,541$51,945$53,349$54,753
Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA$42,027$43,428$44,829$46,230$47,630$49,031$50,432$51,833$53,234$54,635
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX$41,881$43,277$44,673$46,069$47,465$48,861$50,257$51,653$53,049$54,445
Colorado Springs, CO$41,811$43,205$44,598$45,992$47,386$48,780$50,173$51,567$52,961$54,355
St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL$41,769$43,162$44,554$45,946$47,339$48,731$50,123$51,516$52,908$54,300
Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC$41,644$43,032$44,420$45,808$47,197$48,585$49,973$51,361$52,749$54,138
Las Vegas-Henderson, NV-AZ$41,609$42,996$44,383$45,770$47,157$48,544$49,931$51,318$52,705$54,092
Burlington-South Burlington-Barre, VT$41,567$42,953$44,339$45,724$47,110$48,496$49,881$51,267$52,652$54,038
Harrisburg-Lebanon, PA$41,560$42,946$44,331$45,717$47,102$48,487$49,873$51,258$52,644$54,029
Tucson-Nogales, AZ$41,508$42,892$44,276$45,659$47,043$48,426$49,810$51,194$52,577$53,961
Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City, MO-KS$41,400$42,780$44,160$45,541$46,921$48,301$49,681$51,061$52,441$53,821
Davenport-Moline, IA-IL$41,386$42,766$44,146$45,525$46,905$48,284$49,664$51,044$52,423$53,803
Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC$41,341$42,719$44,097$45,475$46,854$48,232$49,610$50,988$52,366$53,744
San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall, TX$41,334$42,712$44,090$45,468$46,846$48,223$49,601$50,979$52,357$53,735
Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas, NM$41,178$42,550$43,923$45,296$46,668$48,041$49,413$50,786$52,159$53,531
Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL$41,146$42,518$43,890$45,261$46,633$48,004$49,376$50,747$52,119$53,491
Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont, NE-IA$41,143$42,514$43,886$45,257$46,629$48,000$49,372$50,743$52,115$53,486
Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie, IN$41,115$42,486$43,856$45,227$46,597$47,968$49,338$50,709$52,079$53,450
Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA$41,066$42,435$43,804$45,173$46,542$47,911$49,280$50,649$52,018$53,387
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL$41,038$42,406$43,774$45,142$46,510$47,878$49,246$50,614$51,982$53,350
Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY$41,021$42,388$43,756$45,123$46,491$47,858$49,226$50,593$51,960$53,328
Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene, WA-ID$40,948$42,313$43,678$45,043$46,408$47,773$49,138$50,503$51,868$53,233
Fresno-Madera-Hanford, CA$40,941$42,306$43,671$45,035$46,400$47,765$49,129$50,494$51,859$53,224
Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice, TX$40,934$42,299$43,663$45,028$46,392$47,757$49,121$50,486$51,850$53,215
Reno-Fernley, NV$40,896$42,259$43,622$44,985$46,349$47,712$49,075$50,438$51,802$53,165
Rest of U.S.$40,736$42,094$43,452$44,809$46,167$47,525$48,883$50,241$51,599$52,957

No GS-5 rate is limited by the cap in any area.

GS-5 hourly and biweekly pay

Hourly and biweekly rates for Rest of U.S., Washington and the largest metro areas, at the first and last step.

GS-5 hourly and biweekly pay in the largest locality pay areas, 2026
Locality pay areaStep 1 hourlyStep 1 biweeklyStep 10 hourlyStep 10 biweekly
Rest of U.S.$19.52$1,561.60$25.37$2,029.60
Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA$22.33$1,786.40$29.03$2,322.40
New York-Newark, NY-NJ-CT-PA$23.00$1,840.00$29.90$2,392.00
Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA$22.76$1,820.80$29.58$2,366.40
Chicago-Naperville, IL-IN-WI$21.82$1,745.60$28.37$2,269.60
San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA$24.40$1,952.00$31.72$2,537.60

GS-5 step increases

Moving from step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks (18 years) if every increase is on time, and adds $12,221 a year in Rest of U.S. at 2026 rates. Waiting periods follow 5 CFR 531.405; the GS pay calculator dates your own next increase.

GS-5 step increases: waiting period and pay gain
MoveWaitTotal from step 1Base pay gainRest of U.S. gain
Step 1 to 252 weeks52 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 2 to 352 weeks104 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 3 to 452 weeks156 weeks+$1,160+$1,357
Step 4 to 5104 weeks260 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 5 to 6104 weeks364 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 6 to 7104 weeks468 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 7 to 8156 weeks624 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 8 to 9156 weeks780 weeks+$1,160+$1,358
Step 9 to 10156 weeks936 weeks+$1,160+$1,358

Promotion examples

Examples for a step 5 employee in Rest of U.S. under the two-step promotion rule. Your own result depends on your step, locality and pay history.

  • Into GS-5: GS-4 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($41,341) promoted to GS-5 lands at step 4 ($44,809), a raise of $3,468 a year (special rate table 001M is part of the calculation).
  • Out of GS-5: GS-5 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($46,167) promoted to GS-6 lands at step 4 ($49,950), a raise of $3,783 a year.
  • Two-grade promotion: GS-5 step 5 in Rest of U.S. ($46,167) promoted to GS-7 lands at step 1 ($50,460), a raise of $4,293 a year.

GS-5 pay questions

How much does a GS-5 make in 2026?

GS-5 base pay is $34,799 at step 1 and $45,239 at step 10. In Rest of U.S. (17.06% locality) the rate is $40,736 to $52,957. Across the 58 locality areas, step 1 ranges from $40,736 (Rest of U.S.) to $50,925 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA), and step 10 ranges from $52,957 (Rest of U.S.) to $66,203 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA).

How much does a GS-5 make in Washington, DC?

In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (33.94% locality), GS-5 pay is $46,610 at step 1 and $60,593 at step 10, or $22.33 to $29.03 per hour.

How much does a GS-5 make in San Francisco?

San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA has the highest locality payment in 2026 (46.34%). GS-5 pay there is $50,925 at step 1 and $66,203 at step 10, or $24.40 to $31.72 per hour.

How long does it take to go from GS-5 step 1 to step 10?

Going from GS-5 step 1 to step 10 takes 936 weeks, or 18 years, with three increases after 52 weeks, three after 104 weeks and three after 156 weeks. Base pay rises $1,160 at every step. In Rest of U.S., pay rises $12,221 a year over that time at 2026 rates ($40,736 to $52,957).

What is the GS-5 hourly rate in 2026?

In Rest of U.S., the GS-5 hourly rate is $19.52 at step 1 and $25.37 at step 10 (annual pay divided by 2,087). The biweekly rate is $1,561.60 to $2,029.60 before deductions. In Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA, step 1 is $22.33 per hour.

Will GS-5 pay go up in 2027?

The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so GS-5 rates on this page are 2026 only. Step increases are separate from the annual raise. See federal pay raise 2027 for the status.

Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.