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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$39,441 GS-5 Step 1 in San Francisco (2017)
$51,279 GS-5 Step 10 in San Francisco (2017)
+$10,896 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2017 GS-5 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 38.17% 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 $39,441 $1,516.96 $18.90 +$10,896
Step 2 $40,756 $1,567.54 $19.53 +$11,259
Step 3 $42,071 $1,618.12 $20.16 +$11,622
Step 4 $43,387 $1,668.73 $20.79 +$11,986
Step 5 $44,702 $1,719.31 $21.42 +$12,349
Step 6 $46,018 $1,769.92 $22.05 +$12,713
Step 7 $47,333 $1,820.50 $22.68 +$13,076
Step 8 $48,648 $1,871.08 $23.31 +$13,439
Step 9 $49,964 $1,921.69 $23.94 +$13,803
Step 10 $51,279 $1,972.27 $24.57 +$14,166
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $28,545
  • San Francisco GS-5 Step 1 $39,441
  • Locality add-on +$10,896
  • Adjustment percent 38.17%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $37,113
  • San Francisco GS-5 Step 10 $51,279

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 2017, the San Francisco pay area adds a 38.17% 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 $1,517 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,972. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2017 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 2017, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $39,441 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,279. This is 38.17% 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 2017, it is 38.17%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,896 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 $1,517 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.