2022 GS-5 Pay in Denver
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 28.10% 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 $39,817 in Denver.
2022 GS-5 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,817 | $1,531.42 | $19.08 | +$8,734 |
| Step 2 | $41,144 | $1,582.46 | $19.71 | +$9,025 |
| Step 3 | $42,472 | $1,633.54 | $20.35 | +$9,317 |
| Step 4 | $43,799 | $1,684.58 | $20.99 | +$9,608 |
| Step 5 | $45,126 | $1,735.62 | $21.62 | +$9,899 |
| Step 6 | $46,453 | $1,786.65 | $22.26 | +$10,190 |
| Step 7 | $47,780 | $1,837.69 | $22.89 | +$10,481 |
| Step 8 | $49,107 | $1,888.73 | $23.53 | +$10,772 |
| Step 9 | $50,434 | $1,939.77 | $24.17 | +$11,063 |
| Step 10 | $51,761 | $1,990.81 | $24.80 | +$11,354 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 28.10% 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 | $39,817 | $1,531.42 | $19.08 | +$8,734 |
| Step 2 | $41,144 | $1,582.46 | $19.71 | +$9,025 |
| Step 3 | $42,472 | $1,633.54 | $20.35 | +$9,317 |
| Step 4 | $43,799 | $1,684.58 | $20.99 | +$9,608 |
| Step 5 | $45,126 | $1,735.62 | $21.62 | +$9,899 |
| Step 6 | $46,453 | $1,786.65 | $22.26 | +$10,190 |
| Step 7 | $47,780 | $1,837.69 | $22.89 | +$10,481 |
| Step 8 | $49,107 | $1,888.73 | $23.53 | +$10,772 |
| Step 9 | $50,434 | $1,939.77 | $24.17 | +$11,063 |
| Step 10 | $51,761 | $1,990.81 | $24.80 | +$11,354 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Denver: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2022, the Denver pay area adds a 28.10% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,531 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,991. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-5 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Denver?
In 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $39,817 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,761. This is 28.10% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2022, it is 28.10%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,734 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,531 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.