2016 GS-5 Pay Scale
The GS-5 base salary range for 2016 is $28,262 at Step 1, rising to $36,740 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-5 for 2016.
2016 GS-5 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-5 rates for 2016.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $28,262 | $1,087.00 | $13.54 | - |
| Step 2 | $29,204 | $1,123.23 | $13.99 | - |
| Step 3 | $30,146 | $1,159.46 | $14.44 | - |
| Step 4 | $31,088 | $1,195.69 | $14.90 | - |
| Step 5 | $32,030 | $1,231.92 | $15.35 | - |
| Step 6 | $32,972 | $1,268.15 | $15.80 | - |
| Step 7 | $33,914 | $1,304.38 | $16.25 | - |
| Step 8 | $34,856 | $1,340.62 | $16.70 | - |
| Step 9 | $35,798 | $1,376.85 | $17.15 | - |
| Step 10 | $36,740 | $1,413.08 | $17.60 | - |
2016 GS-5 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-5 salary schedule for 2016, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $28,262 | $1,087.00 | $13.54 | - |
| Step 2 | $29,204 | $1,123.23 | $13.99 | - |
| Step 3 | $30,146 | $1,159.46 | $14.44 | - |
| Step 4 | $31,088 | $1,195.69 | $14.90 | - |
| Step 5 | $32,030 | $1,231.92 | $15.35 | - |
| Step 6 | $32,972 | $1,268.15 | $15.80 | - |
| Step 7 | $33,914 | $1,304.38 | $16.25 | - |
| Step 8 | $34,856 | $1,340.62 | $16.70 | - |
| Step 9 | $35,798 | $1,376.85 | $17.15 | - |
| Step 10 | $36,740 | $1,413.08 | $17.60 | - |
Who is a GS-5?
Typical role. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Career progression. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-5 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-5 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2016, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-5 Step 1 | GS-5 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 35.75% | $38,366 | $49,875 |
| New York-Newark | 29.20% | $36,515 | $47,468 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 29.11% | $36,489 | $47,435 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 27.65% | $36,076 | $46,899 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 26.20% | $35,667 | $46,366 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 25.44% | $35,452 | $46,087 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 25.19% | $35,381 | $45,995 |
| State of Alaska | 25.16% | $35,373 | $45,984 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 24.78% | $35,265 | $45,844 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 24.73% | $35,251 | $45,826 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 24.40% | $35,158 | $45,705 |
| Denver-Aurora | 22.93% | $34,742 | $45,164 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 22.61% | $34,652 | $45,047 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 22.26% | $34,553 | $44,918 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 22.22% | $34,542 | $44,904 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 21.30% | $34,282 | $44,566 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 21.05% | $34,211 | $44,474 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 21.04% | $34,208 | $44,470 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 20.69% | $34,109 | $44,342 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 19.58% | $33,796 | $43,934 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 18.87% | $33,595 | $43,673 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 18.76% | $33,564 | $43,632 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 18.39% | $33,459 | $43,496 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 17.94% | $33,332 | $43,331 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 17.41% | $33,182 | $43,136 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 17.31% | $33,154 | $43,100 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 17.12% | $33,100 | $43,030 |
| State of Hawaii | 16.81% | $33,013 | $42,916 |
| Richmond | 16.76% | $32,999 | $42,898 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 16.68% | $32,976 | $42,868 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 16.50% | $32,925 | $42,802 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 16.37% | $32,888 | $42,754 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 14.92% | $32,479 | $42,222 |
| Laredo | 14.59% | $32,385 | $42,100 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 14.55% | $32,374 | $42,086 |
| Colorado Springs | 14.52% | $32,366 | $42,075 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 14.51% | $32,363 | $42,071 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 14.51% | $32,363 | $42,071 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 14.49% | $32,357 | $42,064 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 14.49% | $32,357 | $42,064 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 14.49% | $32,357 | $42,064 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 14.47% | $32,352 | $42,056 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 14.44% | $32,343 | $42,045 |
| Davenport-Moline | 14.43% | $32,340 | $42,042 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 14.42% | $32,337 | $42,038 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 14.37% | $32,323 | $42,020 |
| Rest of U.S. | 14.35% | $32,318 | $42,012 |
Top and bottom GS-5 localities in 2016
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-5 pay scale
GS-5 is part of the 2016 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2016
GS-5 questions for 2016
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What is the starting salary for GS-5 in 2016?
The base starting salary for GS-5 in 2016 is $28,262 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2016 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 35.75%), GS-5 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-5 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-5 to GS-6?
Promotion from GS-5 to GS-6 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-6 vacancy. Open the GS-6 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-5?
GS-5 is roughly equivalent to E-6 Staff Sergeant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.