2022 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 31.53% 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 $40,883 in Washington DC.
2022 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 | $40,883 | $1,572.42 | $19.59 | +$9,800 |
| Step 2 | $42,246 | $1,624.85 | $20.24 | +$10,127 |
| Step 3 | $43,609 | $1,677.27 | $20.90 | +$10,454 |
| Step 4 | $44,971 | $1,729.65 | $21.55 | +$10,780 |
| Step 5 | $46,334 | $1,782.08 | $22.20 | +$11,107 |
| Step 6 | $47,697 | $1,834.50 | $22.85 | +$11,434 |
| Step 7 | $49,059 | $1,886.88 | $23.51 | +$11,760 |
| Step 8 | $50,422 | $1,939.31 | $24.16 | +$12,087 |
| Step 9 | $51,785 | $1,991.73 | $24.81 | +$12,414 |
| Step 10 | $53,147 | $2,044.12 | $25.47 | +$12,740 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 31.53% 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 | $40,883 | $1,572.42 | $19.59 | +$9,800 |
| Step 2 | $42,246 | $1,624.85 | $20.24 | +$10,127 |
| Step 3 | $43,609 | $1,677.27 | $20.90 | +$10,454 |
| Step 4 | $44,971 | $1,729.65 | $21.55 | +$10,780 |
| Step 5 | $46,334 | $1,782.08 | $22.20 | +$11,107 |
| Step 6 | $47,697 | $1,834.50 | $22.85 | +$11,434 |
| Step 7 | $49,059 | $1,886.88 | $23.51 | +$11,760 |
| Step 8 | $50,422 | $1,939.31 | $24.16 | +$12,087 |
| Step 9 | $51,785 | $1,991.73 | $24.81 | +$12,414 |
| Step 10 | $53,147 | $2,044.12 | $25.47 | +$12,740 |
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 2022, the Washington DC pay area adds a 31.53% 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 $1,572 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,044. 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 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 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $40,883 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,147. This is 31.53% 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 2022, it is 31.53%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,800 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 $1,572 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.