2015 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 24.22% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $27,982 on the base table to $34,759 in Washington DC.
2015 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $34,759 | $1,336.88 | $16.66 | +$6,777 |
| Step 2 | $35,918 | $1,381.46 | $17.21 | +$7,003 |
| Step 3 | $37,077 | $1,426.04 | $17.77 | +$7,229 |
| Step 4 | $38,236 | $1,470.62 | $18.32 | +$7,455 |
| Step 5 | $39,395 | $1,515.19 | $18.88 | +$7,681 |
| Step 6 | $40,554 | $1,559.77 | $19.43 | +$7,907 |
| Step 7 | $41,713 | $1,604.35 | $19.99 | +$8,133 |
| Step 8 | $42,872 | $1,648.92 | $20.54 | +$8,359 |
| Step 9 | $44,031 | $1,693.50 | $21.10 | +$8,585 |
| Step 10 | $45,190 | $1,738.08 | $21.65 | +$8,811 |
2015 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 24.22% 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 | $34,759 | $1,336.88 | $16.66 | +$6,777 |
| Step 2 | $35,918 | $1,381.46 | $17.21 | +$7,003 |
| Step 3 | $37,077 | $1,426.04 | $17.77 | +$7,229 |
| Step 4 | $38,236 | $1,470.62 | $18.32 | +$7,455 |
| Step 5 | $39,395 | $1,515.19 | $18.88 | +$7,681 |
| Step 6 | $40,554 | $1,559.77 | $19.43 | +$7,907 |
| Step 7 | $41,713 | $1,604.35 | $19.99 | +$8,133 |
| Step 8 | $42,872 | $1,648.92 | $20.54 | +$8,359 |
| Step 9 | $44,031 | $1,693.50 | $21.10 | +$8,585 |
| Step 10 | $45,190 | $1,738.08 | $21.65 | +$8,811 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2015, the Washington DC pay area adds a 24.22% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,337 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,738. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2015, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $34,759 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $45,190. This is 24.22% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2015, it is 24.22%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,777 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,337 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.