2021 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% 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 $39,684 in Washington DC.
2021 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,684 | $1,526.31 | $19.01 | +$9,270 |
| Step 2 | $41,007 | $1,577.19 | $19.65 | +$9,579 |
| Step 3 | $42,330 | $1,628.08 | $20.28 | +$9,888 |
| Step 4 | $43,653 | $1,678.96 | $20.92 | +$10,197 |
| Step 5 | $44,976 | $1,729.85 | $21.55 | +$10,506 |
| Step 6 | $46,300 | $1,780.77 | $22.18 | +$10,816 |
| Step 7 | $47,623 | $1,831.65 | $22.82 | +$11,125 |
| Step 8 | $48,946 | $1,882.54 | $23.45 | +$11,434 |
| Step 9 | $50,269 | $1,933.42 | $24.09 | +$11,743 |
| Step 10 | $51,592 | $1,984.31 | $24.72 | +$12,052 |
2021 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $39,684 | $1,526.31 | $19.01 | +$9,270 |
| Step 2 | $41,007 | $1,577.19 | $19.65 | +$9,579 |
| Step 3 | $42,330 | $1,628.08 | $20.28 | +$9,888 |
| Step 4 | $43,653 | $1,678.96 | $20.92 | +$10,197 |
| Step 5 | $44,976 | $1,729.85 | $21.55 | +$10,506 |
| Step 6 | $46,300 | $1,780.77 | $22.18 | +$10,816 |
| Step 7 | $47,623 | $1,831.65 | $22.82 | +$11,125 |
| Step 8 | $48,946 | $1,882.54 | $23.45 | +$11,434 |
| Step 9 | $50,269 | $1,933.42 | $24.09 | +$11,743 |
| Step 10 | $51,592 | $1,984.31 | $24.72 | +$12,052 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2021, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,526 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,984. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $39,684 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,592. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2021, it is 30.48%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,270 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,526 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.