2018 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 28.22% 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 $37,113 in Washington DC.
2018 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 | $37,113 | $1,427.42 | $17.78 | +$8,168 |
| Step 2 | $38,351 | $1,475.04 | $18.38 | +$8,441 |
| Step 3 | $39,588 | $1,522.62 | $18.97 | +$8,713 |
| Step 4 | $40,825 | $1,570.19 | $19.56 | +$8,985 |
| Step 5 | $42,063 | $1,617.81 | $20.15 | +$9,258 |
| Step 6 | $43,300 | $1,665.38 | $20.75 | +$9,530 |
| Step 7 | $44,537 | $1,712.96 | $21.34 | +$9,802 |
| Step 8 | $45,775 | $1,760.58 | $21.93 | +$10,075 |
| Step 9 | $47,012 | $1,808.15 | $22.53 | +$10,347 |
| Step 10 | $48,249 | $1,855.73 | $23.12 | +$10,619 |
2018 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 28.22% 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 | $37,113 | $1,427.42 | $17.78 | +$8,168 |
| Step 2 | $38,351 | $1,475.04 | $18.38 | +$8,441 |
| Step 3 | $39,588 | $1,522.62 | $18.97 | +$8,713 |
| Step 4 | $40,825 | $1,570.19 | $19.56 | +$8,985 |
| Step 5 | $42,063 | $1,617.81 | $20.15 | +$9,258 |
| Step 6 | $43,300 | $1,665.38 | $20.75 | +$9,530 |
| Step 7 | $44,537 | $1,712.96 | $21.34 | +$9,802 |
| Step 8 | $45,775 | $1,760.58 | $21.93 | +$10,075 |
| Step 9 | $47,012 | $1,808.15 | $22.53 | +$10,347 |
| Step 10 | $48,249 | $1,855.73 | $23.12 | +$10,619 |
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 2018, the Washington DC pay area adds a 28.22% 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 $1,427 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,856. 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 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 2018, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $37,113 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $48,249. This is 28.22% 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 2018, it is 28.22%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,168 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 $1,427 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.