2022 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 28.28% 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 $39,873 in Seattle.
2022 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,873 | $1,533.58 | $19.11 | +$8,790 |
| Step 2 | $41,202 | $1,584.69 | $19.74 | +$9,083 |
| Step 3 | $42,531 | $1,635.81 | $20.38 | +$9,376 |
| Step 4 | $43,860 | $1,686.92 | $21.02 | +$9,669 |
| Step 5 | $45,189 | $1,738.04 | $21.65 | +$9,962 |
| Step 6 | $46,518 | $1,789.15 | $22.29 | +$10,255 |
| Step 7 | $47,847 | $1,840.27 | $22.93 | +$10,548 |
| Step 8 | $49,176 | $1,891.38 | $23.56 | +$10,841 |
| Step 9 | $50,505 | $1,942.50 | $24.20 | +$11,134 |
| Step 10 | $51,834 | $1,993.62 | $24.84 | +$11,427 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 28.28% 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 | $39,873 | $1,533.58 | $19.11 | +$8,790 |
| Step 2 | $41,202 | $1,584.69 | $19.74 | +$9,083 |
| Step 3 | $42,531 | $1,635.81 | $20.38 | +$9,376 |
| Step 4 | $43,860 | $1,686.92 | $21.02 | +$9,669 |
| Step 5 | $45,189 | $1,738.04 | $21.65 | +$9,962 |
| Step 6 | $46,518 | $1,789.15 | $22.29 | +$10,255 |
| Step 7 | $47,847 | $1,840.27 | $22.93 | +$10,548 |
| Step 8 | $49,176 | $1,891.38 | $23.56 | +$10,841 |
| Step 9 | $50,505 | $1,942.50 | $24.20 | +$11,134 |
| Step 10 | $51,834 | $1,993.62 | $24.84 | +$11,427 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Seattle: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2022, the Seattle pay area adds a 28.28% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,534 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,994. 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 Seattle page.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-5 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Seattle?
In 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $39,873 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,834. This is 28.28% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2022, it is 28.28%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,790 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,534 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.