2021 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 15.95% 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 $35,265 in Rest of U.S..
2021 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $35,265 | $1,356.35 | $16.90 | +$4,851 |
| Step 2 | $36,441 | $1,401.58 | $17.46 | +$5,013 |
| Step 3 | $37,616 | $1,446.77 | $18.02 | +$5,174 |
| Step 4 | $38,792 | $1,492.00 | $18.59 | +$5,336 |
| Step 5 | $39,968 | $1,537.23 | $19.15 | +$5,498 |
| Step 6 | $41,144 | $1,582.46 | $19.71 | +$5,660 |
| Step 7 | $42,319 | $1,627.65 | $20.28 | +$5,821 |
| Step 8 | $43,495 | $1,672.88 | $20.84 | +$5,983 |
| Step 9 | $44,671 | $1,718.12 | $21.40 | +$6,145 |
| Step 10 | $45,847 | $1,763.35 | $21.97 | +$6,307 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 15.95% 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 | $35,265 | $1,356.35 | $16.90 | +$4,851 |
| Step 2 | $36,441 | $1,401.58 | $17.46 | +$5,013 |
| Step 3 | $37,616 | $1,446.77 | $18.02 | +$5,174 |
| Step 4 | $38,792 | $1,492.00 | $18.59 | +$5,336 |
| Step 5 | $39,968 | $1,537.23 | $19.15 | +$5,498 |
| Step 6 | $41,144 | $1,582.46 | $19.71 | +$5,660 |
| Step 7 | $42,319 | $1,627.65 | $20.28 | +$5,821 |
| Step 8 | $43,495 | $1,672.88 | $20.84 | +$5,983 |
| Step 9 | $44,671 | $1,718.12 | $21.40 | +$6,145 |
| Step 10 | $45,847 | $1,763.35 | $21.97 | +$6,307 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.95% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,356 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,763. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $35,265 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $45,847. This is 15.95% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2021, it is 15.95%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $4,851 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,356 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.