2017 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 27.10% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $28,545 on the base table to $36,281 in Washington DC.
2017 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 | $36,281 | $1,395.42 | $17.38 | +$7,736 |
| Step 2 | $37,491 | $1,441.96 | $17.96 | +$7,994 |
| Step 3 | $38,701 | $1,488.50 | $18.54 | +$8,252 |
| Step 4 | $39,911 | $1,535.04 | $19.12 | +$8,510 |
| Step 5 | $41,121 | $1,581.58 | $19.70 | +$8,768 |
| Step 6 | $42,331 | $1,628.12 | $20.28 | +$9,026 |
| Step 7 | $43,541 | $1,674.65 | $20.86 | +$9,284 |
| Step 8 | $44,751 | $1,721.19 | $21.44 | +$9,542 |
| Step 9 | $45,961 | $1,767.73 | $22.02 | +$9,800 |
| Step 10 | $47,171 | $1,814.27 | $22.60 | +$10,058 |
2017 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 27.10% 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 | $36,281 | $1,395.42 | $17.38 | +$7,736 |
| Step 2 | $37,491 | $1,441.96 | $17.96 | +$7,994 |
| Step 3 | $38,701 | $1,488.50 | $18.54 | +$8,252 |
| Step 4 | $39,911 | $1,535.04 | $19.12 | +$8,510 |
| Step 5 | $41,121 | $1,581.58 | $19.70 | +$8,768 |
| Step 6 | $42,331 | $1,628.12 | $20.28 | +$9,026 |
| Step 7 | $43,541 | $1,674.65 | $20.86 | +$9,284 |
| Step 8 | $44,751 | $1,721.19 | $21.44 | +$9,542 |
| Step 9 | $45,961 | $1,767.73 | $22.02 | +$9,800 |
| Step 10 | $47,171 | $1,814.27 | $22.60 | +$10,058 |
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 2017, the Washington DC pay area adds a 27.10% 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 $1,395 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,814. 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 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 2017, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $36,281 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $47,171. This is 27.10% 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 2017, it is 27.10%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,736 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 $1,395 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.