2020 GS-5 Pay in DENVER
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 27.13% 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 $38,283 in DENVER.
2020 GS-5 Pay in DENVER
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,283 | $1,472.42 | $18.34 | +$8,170 |
| Step 2 | $39,559 | $1,521.50 | $18.95 | +$8,442 |
| Step 3 | $40,835 | $1,570.58 | $19.57 | +$8,714 |
| Step 4 | $42,112 | $1,619.69 | $20.18 | +$8,987 |
| Step 5 | $43,388 | $1,668.77 | $20.79 | +$9,259 |
| Step 6 | $44,665 | $1,717.88 | $21.40 | +$9,532 |
| Step 7 | $45,941 | $1,766.96 | $22.01 | +$9,804 |
| Step 8 | $47,217 | $1,816.04 | $22.62 | +$10,076 |
| Step 9 | $48,494 | $1,865.15 | $23.24 | +$10,349 |
| Step 10 | $49,770 | $1,914.23 | $23.85 | +$10,621 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for DENVER
Each step below already includes the 27.13% 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 | $38,283 | $1,472.42 | $18.34 | +$8,170 |
| Step 2 | $39,559 | $1,521.50 | $18.95 | +$8,442 |
| Step 3 | $40,835 | $1,570.58 | $19.57 | +$8,714 |
| Step 4 | $42,112 | $1,619.69 | $20.18 | +$8,987 |
| Step 5 | $43,388 | $1,668.77 | $20.79 | +$9,259 |
| Step 6 | $44,665 | $1,717.88 | $21.40 | +$9,532 |
| Step 7 | $45,941 | $1,766.96 | $22.01 | +$9,804 |
| Step 8 | $47,217 | $1,816.04 | $22.62 | +$10,076 |
| Step 9 | $48,494 | $1,865.15 | $23.24 | +$10,349 |
| Step 10 | $49,770 | $1,914.23 | $23.85 | +$10,621 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more DENVER pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in DENVER: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2020, the DENVER pay area adds a 27.13% 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 DENVER
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $1,472 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,914. 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 DENVER page.
Other grades in DENVER
GS-5 in DENVER questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in DENVER?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns $38,283 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,770. This is 27.13% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in DENVER?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DENVER in 2020, it is 27.13%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,170 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in DENVER?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $1,472 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.