2020 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% 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 $39,291 in Washington DC.
2020 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,291 | $1,511.19 | $18.83 | +$9,178 |
| Step 2 | $40,601 | $1,561.58 | $19.45 | +$9,484 |
| Step 3 | $41,911 | $1,611.96 | $20.08 | +$9,790 |
| Step 4 | $43,222 | $1,662.38 | $20.71 | +$10,097 |
| Step 5 | $44,532 | $1,712.77 | $21.34 | +$10,403 |
| Step 6 | $45,842 | $1,763.15 | $21.97 | +$10,709 |
| Step 7 | $47,152 | $1,813.54 | $22.59 | +$11,015 |
| Step 8 | $48,462 | $1,863.92 | $23.22 | +$11,321 |
| Step 9 | $49,772 | $1,914.31 | $23.85 | +$11,627 |
| Step 10 | $51,082 | $1,964.69 | $24.48 | +$11,933 |
2020 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $39,291 | $1,511.19 | $18.83 | +$9,178 |
| Step 2 | $40,601 | $1,561.58 | $19.45 | +$9,484 |
| Step 3 | $41,911 | $1,611.96 | $20.08 | +$9,790 |
| Step 4 | $43,222 | $1,662.38 | $20.71 | +$10,097 |
| Step 5 | $44,532 | $1,712.77 | $21.34 | +$10,403 |
| Step 6 | $45,842 | $1,763.15 | $21.97 | +$10,709 |
| Step 7 | $47,152 | $1,813.54 | $22.59 | +$11,015 |
| Step 8 | $48,462 | $1,863.92 | $23.22 | +$11,321 |
| Step 9 | $49,772 | $1,914.31 | $23.85 | +$11,627 |
| Step 10 | $51,082 | $1,964.69 | $24.48 | +$11,933 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2020, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,511 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,965. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $39,291 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,082. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2020, it is 30.48%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,178 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,511 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.