2022 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 26.95% 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 $39,460 in Philadelphia.
2022 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,460 | $1,517.69 | $18.91 | +$8,377 |
| Step 2 | $40,775 | $1,568.27 | $19.54 | +$8,656 |
| Step 3 | $42,090 | $1,618.85 | $20.17 | +$8,935 |
| Step 4 | $43,405 | $1,669.42 | $20.80 | +$9,214 |
| Step 5 | $44,721 | $1,720.04 | $21.43 | +$9,494 |
| Step 6 | $46,036 | $1,770.62 | $22.06 | +$9,773 |
| Step 7 | $47,351 | $1,821.19 | $22.69 | +$10,052 |
| Step 8 | $48,666 | $1,871.77 | $23.32 | +$10,331 |
| Step 9 | $49,981 | $1,922.35 | $23.95 | +$10,610 |
| Step 10 | $51,297 | $1,972.96 | $24.58 | +$10,890 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 26.95% 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 | $39,460 | $1,517.69 | $18.91 | +$8,377 |
| Step 2 | $40,775 | $1,568.27 | $19.54 | +$8,656 |
| Step 3 | $42,090 | $1,618.85 | $20.17 | +$8,935 |
| Step 4 | $43,405 | $1,669.42 | $20.80 | +$9,214 |
| Step 5 | $44,721 | $1,720.04 | $21.43 | +$9,494 |
| Step 6 | $46,036 | $1,770.62 | $22.06 | +$9,773 |
| Step 7 | $47,351 | $1,821.19 | $22.69 | +$10,052 |
| Step 8 | $48,666 | $1,871.77 | $23.32 | +$10,331 |
| Step 9 | $49,981 | $1,922.35 | $23.95 | +$10,610 |
| Step 10 | $51,297 | $1,972.96 | $24.58 | +$10,890 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2022, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 26.95% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,518 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,973. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-5 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Philadelphia?
In 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $39,460 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,297. This is 26.95% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2022, it is 26.95%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,377 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,518 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.