2019 GS-5 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 28.80% 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 $37,803 in SAN DIEGO.
2019 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 | $37,803 | $1,453.96 | $18.11 | +$8,453 |
| Step 2 | $39,062 | $1,502.38 | $18.72 | +$8,734 |
| Step 3 | $40,322 | $1,550.85 | $19.32 | +$9,016 |
| Step 4 | $41,582 | $1,599.31 | $19.92 | +$9,298 |
| Step 5 | $42,841 | $1,647.73 | $20.53 | +$9,579 |
| Step 6 | $44,101 | $1,696.19 | $21.13 | +$9,861 |
| Step 7 | $45,361 | $1,744.65 | $21.74 | +$10,143 |
| Step 8 | $46,620 | $1,793.08 | $22.34 | +$10,424 |
| Step 9 | $47,880 | $1,841.54 | $22.94 | +$10,706 |
| Step 10 | $49,140 | $1,890.00 | $23.55 | +$10,988 |
2019 GS-5 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 28.80% 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 | $37,803 | $1,453.96 | $18.11 | +$8,453 |
| Step 2 | $39,062 | $1,502.38 | $18.72 | +$8,734 |
| Step 3 | $40,322 | $1,550.85 | $19.32 | +$9,016 |
| Step 4 | $41,582 | $1,599.31 | $19.92 | +$9,298 |
| Step 5 | $42,841 | $1,647.73 | $20.53 | +$9,579 |
| Step 6 | $44,101 | $1,696.19 | $21.13 | +$9,861 |
| Step 7 | $45,361 | $1,744.65 | $21.74 | +$10,143 |
| Step 8 | $46,620 | $1,793.08 | $22.34 | +$10,424 |
| Step 9 | $47,880 | $1,841.54 | $22.94 | +$10,706 |
| Step 10 | $49,140 | $1,890.00 | $23.55 | +$10,988 |
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 2019, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 28.80% 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 $1,454 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,890. 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 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 2019, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $37,803 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,140. This is 28.80% 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 2019, it is 28.80%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,453 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 $1,454 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.