2018 GS-5 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 27.88% 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 $37,015 in SAN DIEGO.
2018 GS-5 Pay in SAN DIEGO
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,015 | $1,423.65 | $17.74 | +$8,070 |
| Step 2 | $38,249 | $1,471.12 | $18.33 | +$8,339 |
| Step 3 | $39,483 | $1,518.58 | $18.92 | +$8,608 |
| Step 4 | $40,717 | $1,566.04 | $19.51 | +$8,877 |
| Step 5 | $41,951 | $1,613.50 | $20.10 | +$9,146 |
| Step 6 | $43,185 | $1,660.96 | $20.69 | +$9,415 |
| Step 7 | $44,419 | $1,708.42 | $21.28 | +$9,684 |
| Step 8 | $45,653 | $1,755.88 | $21.87 | +$9,953 |
| Step 9 | $46,887 | $1,803.35 | $22.47 | +$10,222 |
| Step 10 | $48,121 | $1,850.81 | $23.06 | +$10,491 |
2018 GS-5 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 27.88% 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 | $37,015 | $1,423.65 | $17.74 | +$8,070 |
| Step 2 | $38,249 | $1,471.12 | $18.33 | +$8,339 |
| Step 3 | $39,483 | $1,518.58 | $18.92 | +$8,608 |
| Step 4 | $40,717 | $1,566.04 | $19.51 | +$8,877 |
| Step 5 | $41,951 | $1,613.50 | $20.10 | +$9,146 |
| Step 6 | $43,185 | $1,660.96 | $20.69 | +$9,415 |
| Step 7 | $44,419 | $1,708.42 | $21.28 | +$9,684 |
| Step 8 | $45,653 | $1,755.88 | $21.87 | +$9,953 |
| Step 9 | $46,887 | $1,803.35 | $22.47 | +$10,222 |
| Step 10 | $48,121 | $1,850.81 | $23.06 | +$10,491 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SAN DIEGO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in SAN DIEGO: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2018, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 27.88% 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 DIEGO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $1,424 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,851. 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 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-5 in SAN DIEGO questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2018, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $37,015 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $48,121. This is 27.88% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in SAN DIEGO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2018, it is 27.88%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,070 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in SAN DIEGO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $1,424 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.