2021 GS-5 Pay in DENVER
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 27.13% 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 $38,665 in DENVER.
2021 GS-5 Pay in DENVER
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,665 | $1,487.12 | $18.53 | +$8,251 |
| Step 2 | $39,954 | $1,536.69 | $19.14 | +$8,526 |
| Step 3 | $41,244 | $1,586.31 | $19.76 | +$8,802 |
| Step 4 | $42,533 | $1,635.88 | $20.38 | +$9,077 |
| Step 5 | $43,822 | $1,685.46 | $21.00 | +$9,352 |
| Step 6 | $45,111 | $1,735.04 | $21.62 | +$9,627 |
| Step 7 | $46,400 | $1,784.62 | $22.23 | +$9,902 |
| Step 8 | $47,689 | $1,834.19 | $22.85 | +$10,177 |
| Step 9 | $48,978 | $1,883.77 | $23.47 | +$10,452 |
| Step 10 | $50,267 | $1,933.35 | $24.09 | +$10,727 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for DENVER
Each step below already includes the 27.13% 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 | $38,665 | $1,487.12 | $18.53 | +$8,251 |
| Step 2 | $39,954 | $1,536.69 | $19.14 | +$8,526 |
| Step 3 | $41,244 | $1,586.31 | $19.76 | +$8,802 |
| Step 4 | $42,533 | $1,635.88 | $20.38 | +$9,077 |
| Step 5 | $43,822 | $1,685.46 | $21.00 | +$9,352 |
| Step 6 | $45,111 | $1,735.04 | $21.62 | +$9,627 |
| Step 7 | $46,400 | $1,784.62 | $22.23 | +$9,902 |
| Step 8 | $47,689 | $1,834.19 | $22.85 | +$10,177 |
| Step 9 | $48,978 | $1,883.77 | $23.47 | +$10,452 |
| Step 10 | $50,267 | $1,933.35 | $24.09 | +$10,727 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more DENVER pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in DENVER: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the DENVER pay area adds a 27.13% 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 DENVER
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $1,487 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,933. 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 DENVER page.
Other grades in DENVER
GS-5 in DENVER questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in DENVER?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns $38,665 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $50,267. This is 27.13% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in DENVER?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DENVER in 2021, it is 27.13%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,251 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in DENVER?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $1,487 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.