2020 GS-5 Pay in BOSTON
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 29.11% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,113 on the base table to $38,879 in BOSTON.
2020 GS-5 Pay in BOSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,879 | $1,495.35 | $18.63 | +$8,766 |
| Step 2 | $40,175 | $1,545.19 | $19.25 | +$9,058 |
| Step 3 | $41,471 | $1,595.04 | $19.87 | +$9,350 |
| Step 4 | $42,768 | $1,644.92 | $20.49 | +$9,643 |
| Step 5 | $44,064 | $1,694.77 | $21.11 | +$9,935 |
| Step 6 | $45,360 | $1,744.62 | $21.73 | +$10,227 |
| Step 7 | $46,656 | $1,794.46 | $22.36 | +$10,519 |
| Step 8 | $47,953 | $1,844.35 | $22.98 | +$10,812 |
| Step 9 | $49,249 | $1,894.19 | $23.60 | +$11,104 |
| Step 10 | $50,545 | $1,944.04 | $24.22 | +$11,396 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for BOSTON
Each step below already includes the 29.11% 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 | $38,879 | $1,495.35 | $18.63 | +$8,766 |
| Step 2 | $40,175 | $1,545.19 | $19.25 | +$9,058 |
| Step 3 | $41,471 | $1,595.04 | $19.87 | +$9,350 |
| Step 4 | $42,768 | $1,644.92 | $20.49 | +$9,643 |
| Step 5 | $44,064 | $1,694.77 | $21.11 | +$9,935 |
| Step 6 | $45,360 | $1,744.62 | $21.73 | +$10,227 |
| Step 7 | $46,656 | $1,794.46 | $22.36 | +$10,519 |
| Step 8 | $47,953 | $1,844.35 | $22.98 | +$10,812 |
| Step 9 | $49,249 | $1,894.19 | $23.60 | +$11,104 |
| Step 10 | $50,545 | $1,944.04 | $24.22 | +$11,396 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more BOSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in BOSTON: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2020, the BOSTON pay area adds a 29.11% 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 BOSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $1,495 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,944. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2020 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 BOSTON page.
Other grades in BOSTON
GS-5 in BOSTON questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in BOSTON?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns $38,879 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $50,545. This is 29.11% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in BOSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BOSTON in 2020, it is 29.11%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,766 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in BOSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $1,495 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.