2022 GS-5 Pay in Boston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 30.09% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $31,083 on the base table to $40,436 in Boston.
2022 GS-5 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,436 | $1,555.23 | $19.38 | +$9,353 |
| Step 2 | $41,784 | $1,607.08 | $20.02 | +$9,665 |
| Step 3 | $43,131 | $1,658.88 | $20.67 | +$9,976 |
| Step 4 | $44,479 | $1,710.73 | $21.31 | +$10,288 |
| Step 5 | $45,827 | $1,762.58 | $21.96 | +$10,600 |
| Step 6 | $47,175 | $1,814.42 | $22.60 | +$10,912 |
| Step 7 | $48,522 | $1,866.23 | $23.25 | +$11,223 |
| Step 8 | $49,870 | $1,918.08 | $23.90 | +$11,535 |
| Step 9 | $51,218 | $1,969.92 | $24.54 | +$11,847 |
| Step 10 | $52,565 | $2,021.73 | $25.19 | +$12,158 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 30.09% 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 | $40,436 | $1,555.23 | $19.38 | +$9,353 |
| Step 2 | $41,784 | $1,607.08 | $20.02 | +$9,665 |
| Step 3 | $43,131 | $1,658.88 | $20.67 | +$9,976 |
| Step 4 | $44,479 | $1,710.73 | $21.31 | +$10,288 |
| Step 5 | $45,827 | $1,762.58 | $21.96 | +$10,600 |
| Step 6 | $47,175 | $1,814.42 | $22.60 | +$10,912 |
| Step 7 | $48,522 | $1,866.23 | $23.25 | +$11,223 |
| Step 8 | $49,870 | $1,918.08 | $23.90 | +$11,535 |
| Step 9 | $51,218 | $1,969.92 | $24.54 | +$11,847 |
| Step 10 | $52,565 | $2,021.73 | $25.19 | +$12,158 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Boston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2022, the Boston pay area adds a 30.09% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,555 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,022. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2022 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-5 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Boston?
In 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $40,436 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,565. This is 30.09% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2022, it is 30.09%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,353 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,555 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.