2020 GS-5 Pay in SEATTLE
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 27.02% 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 $38,250 in SEATTLE.
2020 GS-5 Pay in SEATTLE
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,250 | $1,471.15 | $18.33 | +$8,137 |
| Step 2 | $39,525 | $1,520.19 | $18.94 | +$8,408 |
| Step 3 | $40,800 | $1,569.23 | $19.55 | +$8,679 |
| Step 4 | $42,075 | $1,618.27 | $20.16 | +$8,950 |
| Step 5 | $43,351 | $1,667.35 | $20.77 | +$9,222 |
| Step 6 | $44,626 | $1,716.38 | $21.38 | +$9,493 |
| Step 7 | $45,901 | $1,765.42 | $21.99 | +$9,764 |
| Step 8 | $47,176 | $1,814.46 | $22.60 | +$10,035 |
| Step 9 | $48,452 | $1,863.54 | $23.22 | +$10,307 |
| Step 10 | $49,727 | $1,912.58 | $23.83 | +$10,578 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for SEATTLE
Each step below already includes the 27.02% 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 | $38,250 | $1,471.15 | $18.33 | +$8,137 |
| Step 2 | $39,525 | $1,520.19 | $18.94 | +$8,408 |
| Step 3 | $40,800 | $1,569.23 | $19.55 | +$8,679 |
| Step 4 | $42,075 | $1,618.27 | $20.16 | +$8,950 |
| Step 5 | $43,351 | $1,667.35 | $20.77 | +$9,222 |
| Step 6 | $44,626 | $1,716.38 | $21.38 | +$9,493 |
| Step 7 | $45,901 | $1,765.42 | $21.99 | +$9,764 |
| Step 8 | $47,176 | $1,814.46 | $22.60 | +$10,035 |
| Step 9 | $48,452 | $1,863.54 | $23.22 | +$10,307 |
| Step 10 | $49,727 | $1,912.58 | $23.83 | +$10,578 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more SEATTLE pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in SEATTLE: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2020, the SEATTLE pay area adds a 27.02% 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 SEATTLE
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $1,471 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,913. 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 SEATTLE page.
Other grades in SEATTLE
GS-5 in SEATTLE questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in SEATTLE?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $38,250 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,727. This is 27.02% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in SEATTLE?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2020, it is 27.02%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,137 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in SEATTLE?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $1,471 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.