2021 GS-5 Pay Scale
The GS-5 base salary range for 2021 is $30,414 at Step 1, rising to $39,540 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-5 for 2021.
2021 GS-5 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-5 rates for 2021.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $30,414 | $1,169.77 | $14.57 | - |
| Step 2 | $31,428 | $1,208.77 | $15.06 | - |
| Step 3 | $32,442 | $1,247.77 | $15.54 | - |
| Step 4 | $33,456 | $1,286.77 | $16.03 | - |
| Step 5 | $34,470 | $1,325.77 | $16.52 | - |
| Step 6 | $35,484 | $1,364.77 | $17.00 | - |
| Step 7 | $36,498 | $1,403.77 | $17.49 | - |
| Step 8 | $37,512 | $1,442.77 | $17.97 | - |
| Step 9 | $38,526 | $1,481.77 | $18.46 | - |
| Step 10 | $39,540 | $1,520.77 | $18.95 | - |
2021 GS-5 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-5 salary schedule for 2021, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $30,414 | $1,169.77 | $14.57 | - |
| Step 2 | $31,428 | $1,208.77 | $15.06 | - |
| Step 3 | $32,442 | $1,247.77 | $15.54 | - |
| Step 4 | $33,456 | $1,286.77 | $16.03 | - |
| Step 5 | $34,470 | $1,325.77 | $16.52 | - |
| Step 6 | $35,484 | $1,364.77 | $17.00 | - |
| Step 7 | $36,498 | $1,403.77 | $17.49 | - |
| Step 8 | $37,512 | $1,442.77 | $17.97 | - |
| Step 9 | $38,526 | $1,481.77 | $18.46 | - |
| Step 10 | $39,540 | $1,520.77 | $18.95 | - |
Who is a GS-5?
Typical role. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Career progression. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-5 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-5 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2021, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-5 Step 1 | GS-5 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 41.44% | $43,018 | $55,925 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $40,749 | $52,976 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $40,548 | $52,715 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $40,271 | $52,355 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $39,684 | $51,592 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $39,468 | $51,311 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $39,438 | $51,272 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $39,383 | $51,200 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $39,268 | $51,050 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $39,109 | $50,844 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $38,723 | $50,342 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $38,665 | $50,267 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $38,632 | $50,224 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $38,434 | $49,967 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $38,334 | $49,836 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $38,011 | $49,417 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $37,914 | $49,291 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $37,634 | $48,927 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $37,564 | $48,836 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $37,154 | $48,302 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $36,789 | $47,828 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $36,746 | $47,772 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $36,664 | $47,665 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $36,646 | $47,642 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $36,558 | $47,527 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $36,533 | $47,495 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $36,503 | $47,456 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $36,482 | $47,428 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $36,451 | $47,389 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $36,363 | $47,274 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $36,314 | $47,211 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $36,247 | $47,124 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $36,156 | $47,005 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $35,940 | $46,724 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $35,852 | $46,610 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $35,822 | $46,570 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $35,791 | $46,531 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $35,782 | $46,519 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $35,718 | $46,436 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $35,645 | $46,341 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $35,642 | $46,337 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $35,624 | $46,313 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $35,597 | $46,278 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $35,560 | $46,230 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $35,551 | $46,218 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $35,514 | $46,171 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $35,502 | $46,155 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $35,487 | $46,135 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $35,451 | $46,088 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $35,435 | $46,068 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $35,381 | $45,997 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $35,359 | $45,969 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $35,265 | $45,847 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $35,265 | $45,847 |
Top and bottom GS-5 localities in 2021
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-5 pay scale
GS-5 is part of the 2021 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2021
GS-5 questions for 2021
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What is the starting salary for GS-5 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GS-5 in 2021 is $30,414 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2021 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 41.44%), GS-5 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-5 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-5 to GS-6?
Promotion from GS-5 to GS-6 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-6 vacancy. Open the GS-6 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-5?
GS-5 is roughly equivalent to E-6 Staff Sergeant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.