2021 GS-5 Pay in BOSTON
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 29.11% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,414 on the base table to $39,268 in BOSTON.
2021 GS-5 Pay in BOSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,268 | $1,510.31 | $18.82 | +$8,854 |
| Step 2 | $40,577 | $1,560.65 | $19.44 | +$9,149 |
| Step 3 | $41,886 | $1,611.00 | $20.07 | +$9,444 |
| Step 4 | $43,195 | $1,661.35 | $20.70 | +$9,739 |
| Step 5 | $44,504 | $1,711.69 | $21.32 | +$10,034 |
| Step 6 | $45,813 | $1,762.04 | $21.95 | +$10,329 |
| Step 7 | $47,123 | $1,812.42 | $22.58 | +$10,625 |
| Step 8 | $48,432 | $1,862.77 | $23.21 | +$10,920 |
| Step 9 | $49,741 | $1,913.12 | $23.83 | +$11,215 |
| Step 10 | $51,050 | $1,963.46 | $24.46 | +$11,510 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for BOSTON
Each step below already includes the 29.11% 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 | $39,268 | $1,510.31 | $18.82 | +$8,854 |
| Step 2 | $40,577 | $1,560.65 | $19.44 | +$9,149 |
| Step 3 | $41,886 | $1,611.00 | $20.07 | +$9,444 |
| Step 4 | $43,195 | $1,661.35 | $20.70 | +$9,739 |
| Step 5 | $44,504 | $1,711.69 | $21.32 | +$10,034 |
| Step 6 | $45,813 | $1,762.04 | $21.95 | +$10,329 |
| Step 7 | $47,123 | $1,812.42 | $22.58 | +$10,625 |
| Step 8 | $48,432 | $1,862.77 | $23.21 | +$10,920 |
| Step 9 | $49,741 | $1,913.12 | $23.83 | +$11,215 |
| Step 10 | $51,050 | $1,963.46 | $24.46 | +$11,510 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more BOSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in BOSTON: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the BOSTON pay area adds a 29.11% 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 BOSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $1,510 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,963. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 BOSTON page.
Other grades in BOSTON
GS-5 in BOSTON questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in BOSTON?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns $39,268 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,050. This is 29.11% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in BOSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BOSTON in 2021, it is 29.11%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,854 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in BOSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in BOSTON earns roughly $1,510 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.