2018 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.37% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $28,945 on the base table to $33,394 in Rest of U.S..
2018 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $33,394 | $1,284.38 | $16.00 | +$4,449 |
| Step 2 | $34,507 | $1,327.19 | $16.53 | +$4,597 |
| Step 3 | $35,620 | $1,370.00 | $17.07 | +$4,745 |
| Step 4 | $36,734 | $1,412.85 | $17.60 | +$4,894 |
| Step 5 | $37,847 | $1,455.65 | $18.13 | +$5,042 |
| Step 6 | $38,960 | $1,498.46 | $18.67 | +$5,190 |
| Step 7 | $40,074 | $1,541.31 | $19.20 | +$5,339 |
| Step 8 | $41,187 | $1,584.12 | $19.74 | +$5,487 |
| Step 9 | $42,300 | $1,626.92 | $20.27 | +$5,635 |
| Step 10 | $43,414 | $1,669.77 | $20.80 | +$5,784 |
2018 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.37% 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 | $33,394 | $1,284.38 | $16.00 | +$4,449 |
| Step 2 | $34,507 | $1,327.19 | $16.53 | +$4,597 |
| Step 3 | $35,620 | $1,370.00 | $17.07 | +$4,745 |
| Step 4 | $36,734 | $1,412.85 | $17.60 | +$4,894 |
| Step 5 | $37,847 | $1,455.65 | $18.13 | +$5,042 |
| Step 6 | $38,960 | $1,498.46 | $18.67 | +$5,190 |
| Step 7 | $40,074 | $1,541.31 | $19.20 | +$5,339 |
| Step 8 | $41,187 | $1,584.12 | $19.74 | +$5,487 |
| Step 9 | $42,300 | $1,626.92 | $20.27 | +$5,635 |
| Step 10 | $43,414 | $1,669.77 | $20.80 | +$5,784 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2018, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.37% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,284 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,670. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2018 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2018, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $33,394 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $43,414. This is 15.37% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2018, it is 15.37%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $4,449 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,284 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.