2020 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.95% 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 $34,916 in Rest of U.S..
2020 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 | $34,916 | $1,342.92 | $16.73 | +$4,803 |
| Step 2 | $36,080 | $1,387.69 | $17.29 | +$4,963 |
| Step 3 | $37,244 | $1,432.46 | $17.85 | +$5,123 |
| Step 4 | $38,408 | $1,477.23 | $18.40 | +$5,283 |
| Step 5 | $39,573 | $1,522.04 | $18.96 | +$5,444 |
| Step 6 | $40,737 | $1,566.81 | $19.52 | +$5,604 |
| Step 7 | $41,901 | $1,611.58 | $20.08 | +$5,764 |
| Step 8 | $43,065 | $1,656.35 | $20.63 | +$5,924 |
| Step 9 | $44,229 | $1,701.12 | $21.19 | +$6,084 |
| Step 10 | $45,393 | $1,745.88 | $21.75 | +$6,244 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.95% 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 | $34,916 | $1,342.92 | $16.73 | +$4,803 |
| Step 2 | $36,080 | $1,387.69 | $17.29 | +$4,963 |
| Step 3 | $37,244 | $1,432.46 | $17.85 | +$5,123 |
| Step 4 | $38,408 | $1,477.23 | $18.40 | +$5,283 |
| Step 5 | $39,573 | $1,522.04 | $18.96 | +$5,444 |
| Step 6 | $40,737 | $1,566.81 | $19.52 | +$5,604 |
| Step 7 | $41,901 | $1,611.58 | $20.08 | +$5,764 |
| Step 8 | $43,065 | $1,656.35 | $20.63 | +$5,924 |
| Step 9 | $44,229 | $1,701.12 | $21.19 | +$6,084 |
| Step 10 | $45,393 | $1,745.88 | $21.75 | +$6,244 |
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 2020, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% 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 $1,343 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,746. 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 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 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $34,916 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $45,393. This is 15.95% 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 2020, it is 15.95%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $4,803 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 $1,343 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.