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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$37,443 GS-5 Step 1 in San Francisco (2014)
$48,682 GS-5 Step 10 in San Francisco (2014)
+$9,738 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2014 GS-5 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 35.15% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-5 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $37,443 $1,440.12 $17.94 +$9,738
Step 2 $38,692 $1,488.15 $18.54 +$10,063
Step 3 $39,941 $1,536.19 $19.14 +$10,388
Step 4 $41,190 $1,584.23 $19.74 +$10,713
Step 5 $42,438 $1,632.23 $20.33 +$11,037
Step 6 $43,687 $1,680.27 $20.93 +$11,362
Step 7 $44,936 $1,728.31 $21.53 +$11,687
Step 8 $46,185 $1,776.35 $22.13 +$12,012
Step 9 $47,434 $1,824.38 $22.73 +$12,337
Step 10 $48,682 $1,872.38 $23.33 +$12,661
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $27,705
  • San Francisco GS-5 Step 1 $37,443
  • Locality add-on +$9,738
  • Adjustment percent 35.15%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $36,021
  • San Francisco GS-5 Step 10 $48,682

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-5 in San Francisco: what to expect

Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.

For 2014, the San Francisco pay area adds a 35.15% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.

Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.

The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in San Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,440 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,872. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2014 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 San Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-5 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in San Francisco?
    In 2014, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $37,443 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $48,682. This is 35.15% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2014, it is 35.15%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,738 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,440 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.