2020 GS-5 Pay in SAN DIEGO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 29.77% 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 $39,078 in SAN DIEGO.
2020 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 | $39,078 | $1,503.00 | $18.72 | +$8,965 |
| Step 2 | $40,381 | $1,553.12 | $19.35 | +$9,264 |
| Step 3 | $41,683 | $1,603.19 | $19.97 | +$9,562 |
| Step 4 | $42,986 | $1,653.31 | $20.60 | +$9,861 |
| Step 5 | $44,289 | $1,703.42 | $21.22 | +$10,160 |
| Step 6 | $45,592 | $1,753.54 | $21.85 | +$10,459 |
| Step 7 | $46,895 | $1,803.65 | $22.47 | +$10,758 |
| Step 8 | $48,198 | $1,853.77 | $23.09 | +$11,057 |
| Step 9 | $49,501 | $1,903.88 | $23.72 | +$11,356 |
| Step 10 | $50,804 | $1,954.00 | $24.34 | +$11,655 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for SAN DIEGO
Each step below already includes the 29.77% 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 | $39,078 | $1,503.00 | $18.72 | +$8,965 |
| Step 2 | $40,381 | $1,553.12 | $19.35 | +$9,264 |
| Step 3 | $41,683 | $1,603.19 | $19.97 | +$9,562 |
| Step 4 | $42,986 | $1,653.31 | $20.60 | +$9,861 |
| Step 5 | $44,289 | $1,703.42 | $21.22 | +$10,160 |
| Step 6 | $45,592 | $1,753.54 | $21.85 | +$10,459 |
| Step 7 | $46,895 | $1,803.65 | $22.47 | +$10,758 |
| Step 8 | $48,198 | $1,853.77 | $23.09 | +$11,057 |
| Step 9 | $49,501 | $1,903.88 | $23.72 | +$11,356 |
| Step 10 | $50,804 | $1,954.00 | $24.34 | +$11,655 |
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 2020, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% 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 $1,503 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,954. 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 SAN DIEGO page.
Other grades in SAN DIEGO
GS-5 in SAN DIEGO questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in SAN DIEGO?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $39,078 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $50,804. This is 29.77% 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 2020, it is 29.77%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,965 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 $1,503 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.