2023 GS-5 Pay Scale
The GS-5 base salary range for 2023 is $32,357 at Step 1, rising to $42,068 at Step 10. Add the locality pay adjustment for your duty station on top. This page shows the base table first, then every locality-adjusted version of GS-5 for 2023.
2023 GS-5 Pay Scale
Nationwide base GS-5 rates for 2023.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,357 | $1,244.50 | $15.50 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,436 | $1,286.00 | $16.02 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,515 | $1,327.50 | $16.54 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,594 | $1,369.00 | $17.06 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,673 | $1,410.50 | $17.57 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,752 | $1,452.00 | $18.09 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,831 | $1,493.50 | $18.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $39,910 | $1,535.00 | $19.12 | - |
| Step 9 | $40,989 | $1,576.50 | $19.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $42,068 | $1,618.00 | $20.16 | - |
2023 GS-5 base salary, all 10 steps
This is the nationwide base GS-5 salary schedule for 2023, before any locality adjustment. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay and hourly rate for every step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $32,357 | $1,244.50 | $15.50 | - |
| Step 2 | $33,436 | $1,286.00 | $16.02 | - |
| Step 3 | $34,515 | $1,327.50 | $16.54 | - |
| Step 4 | $35,594 | $1,369.00 | $17.06 | - |
| Step 5 | $36,673 | $1,410.50 | $17.57 | - |
| Step 6 | $37,752 | $1,452.00 | $18.09 | - |
| Step 7 | $38,831 | $1,493.50 | $18.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $39,910 | $1,535.00 | $19.12 | - |
| Step 9 | $40,989 | $1,576.50 | $19.64 | - |
| Step 10 | $42,068 | $1,618.00 | $20.16 | - |
Who is a GS-5?
Typical role. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Career progression. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
Step-increase waiting periods
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable.
GS-5 locality-adjusted salary for every pay area
Most federal employees receive locality pay on top of their base salary. The table below shows GS-5 Step 1 and Step 10 for every OPM locality pay area in 2023, sorted from highest to lowest adjustment.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GS-5 Step 1 | GS-5 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 44.15% | $46,643 | $60,641 |
| New York-Newark | 36.16% | $44,057 | $57,280 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 34.89% | $43,646 | $56,746 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 34.47% | $43,510 | $56,569 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 32.49% | $42,870 | $55,736 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 32.01% | $42,714 | $55,534 |
| State of Alaska | 31.32% | $42,491 | $55,244 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 31.05% | $42,404 | $55,130 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.91% | $42,359 | $55,071 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.79% | $41,996 | $54,600 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 29.57% | $41,925 | $54,508 |
| Denver-Aurora | 29.05% | $41,757 | $54,289 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 28.37% | $41,537 | $54,003 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 28.30% | $41,514 | $53,973 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 27.84% | $41,365 | $53,780 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 26.39% | $40,896 | $53,170 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 26.37% | $40,890 | $53,161 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.98% | $40,440 | $52,577 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.14% | $40,168 | $52,223 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.02% | $39,806 | $51,752 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.74% | $39,391 | $51,214 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.69% | $39,375 | $51,193 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 21.44% | $39,294 | $51,087 |
| Richmond | 21.38% | $39,275 | $51,062 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 21.37% | $39,272 | $51,058 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 21.35% | $39,265 | $51,050 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.35% | $39,265 | $51,050 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 21.27% | $39,239 | $51,016 |
| State of Hawaii | 21.17% | $39,207 | $50,974 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.96% | $39,139 | $50,885 |
| Laredo | 20.64% | $39,035 | $50,751 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 20.59% | $39,019 | $50,730 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 20.37% | $38,948 | $50,637 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 19.45% | $38,650 | $50,250 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 19.40% | $38,634 | $50,229 |
| Colorado Springs | 19.11% | $38,540 | $50,107 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 19.10% | $38,537 | $50,103 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.76% | $38,427 | $49,960 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.63% | $38,385 | $49,905 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 18.59% | $38,372 | $49,888 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 18.40% | $38,311 | $49,809 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 18.31% | $38,282 | $49,771 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.21% | $38,249 | $49,729 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.18% | $38,240 | $49,716 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.00% | $38,181 | $49,640 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.94% | $38,162 | $49,615 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.63% | $38,062 | $49,485 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.57% | $38,042 | $49,459 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 17.52% | $38,026 | $49,438 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 17.41% | $37,990 | $49,392 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.30% | $37,955 | $49,346 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 17.13% | $37,900 | $49,274 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.10% | $37,890 | $49,262 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.50% | $37,696 | $49,009 |
Top and bottom GS-5 localities in 2023
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
About the GS-5 pay scale
GS-5 is part of the 2023 General Schedule, the pay system used by roughly 70% of civilian white-collar federal employees. Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
How step increases work
Within-grade step increases happen automatically as long as your performance is acceptable. You move from Step 1 to Step 4 one year at a time, from Step 4 to Step 7 every two years, and from Step 7 to Step 10 every three years. Managers can award a one-time quality step increase (QSI) to accelerate progression for employees whose performance is rated outstanding.
Browse other grades in 2023
GS-5 questions for 2023
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What is the starting salary for GS-5 in 2023?
The base starting salary for GS-5 in 2023 is $32,357 at Step 1. With the highest locality adjustment in 2023 (San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, 44.15%), GS-5 Step 1 can reach significantly more. -
How long does it take to reach GS-5 Step 10?
If you never get a quality step increase, it takes roughly 18 years to move from Step 1 to Step 10. Steps 1-4 take one year each, Steps 5-7 take two years each, and Steps 8-10 take three years each. A quality step increase can shorten that timeline by one year per QSI. -
How do I get promoted from GS-5 to GS-6?
Promotion from GS-5 to GS-6 generally requires one year of specialized experience at the GS-5 level, and a competitive selection into a GS-6 vacancy. Open the GS-6 pay scale to see the next grade's salaries. -
What is the military equivalent of GS-5?
GS-5 is roughly equivalent to E-6 Staff Sergeant. These equivalents are approximate. The GS and military pay systems do not map one to one.