2016 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 24.78% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $28,262 on the base table to $35,265 in Washington DC.
2016 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 | $35,265 | $1,356.35 | $16.90 | +$7,003 |
| Step 2 | $36,441 | $1,401.58 | $17.46 | +$7,237 |
| Step 3 | $37,616 | $1,446.77 | $18.02 | +$7,470 |
| Step 4 | $38,792 | $1,492.00 | $18.59 | +$7,704 |
| Step 5 | $39,967 | $1,537.19 | $19.15 | +$7,937 |
| Step 6 | $41,142 | $1,582.38 | $19.71 | +$8,170 |
| Step 7 | $42,318 | $1,627.62 | $20.28 | +$8,404 |
| Step 8 | $43,493 | $1,672.81 | $20.84 | +$8,637 |
| Step 9 | $44,669 | $1,718.04 | $21.40 | +$8,871 |
| Step 10 | $45,844 | $1,763.23 | $21.97 | +$9,104 |
2016 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 24.78% 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 | $35,265 | $1,356.35 | $16.90 | +$7,003 |
| Step 2 | $36,441 | $1,401.58 | $17.46 | +$7,237 |
| Step 3 | $37,616 | $1,446.77 | $18.02 | +$7,470 |
| Step 4 | $38,792 | $1,492.00 | $18.59 | +$7,704 |
| Step 5 | $39,967 | $1,537.19 | $19.15 | +$7,937 |
| Step 6 | $41,142 | $1,582.38 | $19.71 | +$8,170 |
| Step 7 | $42,318 | $1,627.62 | $20.28 | +$8,404 |
| Step 8 | $43,493 | $1,672.81 | $20.84 | +$8,637 |
| Step 9 | $44,669 | $1,718.04 | $21.40 | +$8,871 |
| Step 10 | $45,844 | $1,763.23 | $21.97 | +$9,104 |
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 2016, the Washington DC pay area adds a 24.78% 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 $1,356 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,763. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2016 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 2016, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $35,265 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $45,844. This is 24.78% 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 2016, it is 24.78%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,003 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 $1,356 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.