2021 GS-5 Pay in HOUSTON
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 33.32% 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 $40,548 in HOUSTON.
2021 GS-5 Pay in HOUSTON
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,548 | $1,559.54 | $19.43 | +$10,134 |
| Step 2 | $41,900 | $1,611.54 | $20.08 | +$10,472 |
| Step 3 | $43,252 | $1,663.54 | $20.72 | +$10,810 |
| Step 4 | $44,604 | $1,715.54 | $21.37 | +$11,148 |
| Step 5 | $45,955 | $1,767.50 | $22.02 | +$11,485 |
| Step 6 | $47,307 | $1,819.50 | $22.67 | +$11,823 |
| Step 7 | $48,659 | $1,871.50 | $23.32 | +$12,161 |
| Step 8 | $50,011 | $1,923.50 | $23.96 | +$12,499 |
| Step 9 | $51,363 | $1,975.50 | $24.61 | +$12,837 |
| Step 10 | $52,715 | $2,027.50 | $25.26 | +$13,175 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for HOUSTON
Each step below already includes the 33.32% 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 | $40,548 | $1,559.54 | $19.43 | +$10,134 |
| Step 2 | $41,900 | $1,611.54 | $20.08 | +$10,472 |
| Step 3 | $43,252 | $1,663.54 | $20.72 | +$10,810 |
| Step 4 | $44,604 | $1,715.54 | $21.37 | +$11,148 |
| Step 5 | $45,955 | $1,767.50 | $22.02 | +$11,485 |
| Step 6 | $47,307 | $1,819.50 | $22.67 | +$11,823 |
| Step 7 | $48,659 | $1,871.50 | $23.32 | +$12,161 |
| Step 8 | $50,011 | $1,923.50 | $23.96 | +$12,499 |
| Step 9 | $51,363 | $1,975.50 | $24.61 | +$12,837 |
| Step 10 | $52,715 | $2,027.50 | $25.26 | +$13,175 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more HOUSTON pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in HOUSTON: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% 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 HOUSTON
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,560 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,028. 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 HOUSTON page.
Other grades in HOUSTON
GS-5 in HOUSTON questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in HOUSTON?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $40,548 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,715. This is 33.32% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in HOUSTON?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2021, it is 33.32%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,134 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in HOUSTON?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,560 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.