2021 GS-5 Pay in LOS ANGELES
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 32.41% 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 $40,271 in LOS ANGELES.
2021 GS-5 Pay in LOS ANGELES
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,271 | $1,548.88 | $19.30 | +$9,857 |
| Step 2 | $41,614 | $1,600.54 | $19.94 | +$10,186 |
| Step 3 | $42,956 | $1,652.15 | $20.58 | +$10,514 |
| Step 4 | $44,299 | $1,703.81 | $21.23 | +$10,843 |
| Step 5 | $45,642 | $1,755.46 | $21.87 | +$11,172 |
| Step 6 | $46,984 | $1,807.08 | $22.51 | +$11,500 |
| Step 7 | $48,327 | $1,858.73 | $23.16 | +$11,829 |
| Step 8 | $49,670 | $1,910.38 | $23.80 | +$12,158 |
| Step 9 | $51,012 | $1,962.00 | $24.44 | +$12,486 |
| Step 10 | $52,355 | $2,013.65 | $25.09 | +$12,815 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for LOS ANGELES
Each step below already includes the 32.41% 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 | $40,271 | $1,548.88 | $19.30 | +$9,857 |
| Step 2 | $41,614 | $1,600.54 | $19.94 | +$10,186 |
| Step 3 | $42,956 | $1,652.15 | $20.58 | +$10,514 |
| Step 4 | $44,299 | $1,703.81 | $21.23 | +$10,843 |
| Step 5 | $45,642 | $1,755.46 | $21.87 | +$11,172 |
| Step 6 | $46,984 | $1,807.08 | $22.51 | +$11,500 |
| Step 7 | $48,327 | $1,858.73 | $23.16 | +$11,829 |
| Step 8 | $49,670 | $1,910.38 | $23.80 | +$12,158 |
| Step 9 | $51,012 | $1,962.00 | $24.44 | +$12,486 |
| Step 10 | $52,355 | $2,013.65 | $25.09 | +$12,815 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more LOS ANGELES pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in LOS ANGELES: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the LOS ANGELES pay area adds a 32.41% 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 LOS ANGELES
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns roughly $1,549 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,014. 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 LOS ANGELES page.
Other grades in LOS ANGELES
GS-5 in LOS ANGELES questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in LOS ANGELES?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns $40,271 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,355. This is 32.41% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in LOS ANGELES?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For LOS ANGELES in 2021, it is 32.41%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,857 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in LOS ANGELES?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in LOS ANGELES earns roughly $1,549 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.