2019 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 29.32% 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 $37,955 in Washington DC.
2019 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 | $37,955 | $1,459.81 | $18.19 | +$8,605 |
| Step 2 | $39,220 | $1,508.46 | $18.79 | +$8,892 |
| Step 3 | $40,485 | $1,557.12 | $19.40 | +$9,179 |
| Step 4 | $41,750 | $1,605.77 | $20.00 | +$9,466 |
| Step 5 | $43,014 | $1,654.38 | $20.61 | +$9,752 |
| Step 6 | $44,279 | $1,703.04 | $21.22 | +$10,039 |
| Step 7 | $45,544 | $1,751.69 | $21.82 | +$10,326 |
| Step 8 | $46,809 | $1,800.35 | $22.43 | +$10,613 |
| Step 9 | $48,073 | $1,848.96 | $23.03 | +$10,899 |
| Step 10 | $49,338 | $1,897.62 | $23.64 | +$11,186 |
2019 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 29.32% 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 | $37,955 | $1,459.81 | $18.19 | +$8,605 |
| Step 2 | $39,220 | $1,508.46 | $18.79 | +$8,892 |
| Step 3 | $40,485 | $1,557.12 | $19.40 | +$9,179 |
| Step 4 | $41,750 | $1,605.77 | $20.00 | +$9,466 |
| Step 5 | $43,014 | $1,654.38 | $20.61 | +$9,752 |
| Step 6 | $44,279 | $1,703.04 | $21.22 | +$10,039 |
| Step 7 | $45,544 | $1,751.69 | $21.82 | +$10,326 |
| Step 8 | $46,809 | $1,800.35 | $22.43 | +$10,613 |
| Step 9 | $48,073 | $1,848.96 | $23.03 | +$10,899 |
| Step 10 | $49,338 | $1,897.62 | $23.64 | +$11,186 |
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 2019, the Washington DC pay area adds a 29.32% 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 $1,460 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,898. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2019, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $37,955 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,338. This is 29.32% 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 2019, it is 29.32%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,605 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 $1,460 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.