2021 GS-5 Pay in BUFFALO
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY earn 20.20% 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 $36,558 in BUFFALO.
2021 GS-5 Pay in BUFFALO
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,558 | $1,406.08 | $17.52 | +$6,144 |
| Step 2 | $37,776 | $1,452.92 | $18.10 | +$6,348 |
| Step 3 | $38,995 | $1,499.81 | $18.68 | +$6,553 |
| Step 4 | $40,214 | $1,546.69 | $19.27 | +$6,758 |
| Step 5 | $41,433 | $1,593.58 | $19.85 | +$6,963 |
| Step 6 | $42,652 | $1,640.46 | $20.44 | +$7,168 |
| Step 7 | $43,871 | $1,687.35 | $21.02 | +$7,373 |
| Step 8 | $45,089 | $1,734.19 | $21.60 | +$7,577 |
| Step 9 | $46,308 | $1,781.08 | $22.19 | +$7,782 |
| Step 10 | $47,527 | $1,827.96 | $22.77 | +$7,987 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for BUFFALO
Each step below already includes the 20.20% 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 | $36,558 | $1,406.08 | $17.52 | +$6,144 |
| Step 2 | $37,776 | $1,452.92 | $18.10 | +$6,348 |
| Step 3 | $38,995 | $1,499.81 | $18.68 | +$6,553 |
| Step 4 | $40,214 | $1,546.69 | $19.27 | +$6,758 |
| Step 5 | $41,433 | $1,593.58 | $19.85 | +$6,963 |
| Step 6 | $42,652 | $1,640.46 | $20.44 | +$7,168 |
| Step 7 | $43,871 | $1,687.35 | $21.02 | +$7,373 |
| Step 8 | $45,089 | $1,734.19 | $21.60 | +$7,577 |
| Step 9 | $46,308 | $1,781.08 | $22.19 | +$7,782 |
| Step 10 | $47,527 | $1,827.96 | $22.77 | +$7,987 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more BUFFALO pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in BUFFALO: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the BUFFALO pay area adds a 20.20% 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 BUFFALO
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,406 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,828. 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 BUFFALO page.
Other grades in BUFFALO
GS-5 in BUFFALO questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in BUFFALO?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns $36,558 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $47,527. This is 20.20% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in BUFFALO?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BUFFALO in 2021, it is 20.20%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,144 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in BUFFALO?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,406 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.