2019 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.67% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $29,350 on the base table to $33,949 in Rest of U.S..
2019 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 | $33,949 | $1,305.73 | $16.27 | +$4,599 |
| Step 2 | $35,080 | $1,349.23 | $16.81 | +$4,752 |
| Step 3 | $36,212 | $1,392.77 | $17.35 | +$4,906 |
| Step 4 | $37,343 | $1,436.27 | $17.89 | +$5,059 |
| Step 5 | $38,474 | $1,479.77 | $18.44 | +$5,212 |
| Step 6 | $39,605 | $1,523.27 | $18.98 | +$5,365 |
| Step 7 | $40,737 | $1,566.81 | $19.52 | +$5,519 |
| Step 8 | $41,868 | $1,610.31 | $20.06 | +$5,672 |
| Step 9 | $42,999 | $1,653.81 | $20.60 | +$5,825 |
| Step 10 | $44,130 | $1,697.31 | $21.15 | +$5,978 |
2019 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.67% 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 | $33,949 | $1,305.73 | $16.27 | +$4,599 |
| Step 2 | $35,080 | $1,349.23 | $16.81 | +$4,752 |
| Step 3 | $36,212 | $1,392.77 | $17.35 | +$4,906 |
| Step 4 | $37,343 | $1,436.27 | $17.89 | +$5,059 |
| Step 5 | $38,474 | $1,479.77 | $18.44 | +$5,212 |
| Step 6 | $39,605 | $1,523.27 | $18.98 | +$5,365 |
| Step 7 | $40,737 | $1,566.81 | $19.52 | +$5,519 |
| Step 8 | $41,868 | $1,610.31 | $20.06 | +$5,672 |
| Step 9 | $42,999 | $1,653.81 | $20.60 | +$5,825 |
| Step 10 | $44,130 | $1,697.31 | $21.15 | +$5,978 |
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 2019, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.67% 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 $1,306 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,697. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2019 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 2019, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $33,949 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $44,130. This is 15.67% 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 2019, it is 15.67%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $4,599 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 $1,306 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.