2023 GS-5 Pay in Boston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 31.05% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $32,357 on the base table to $42,404 in Boston.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,404 | $1,630.92 | $20.32 | +$10,047 |
| Step 2 | $43,818 | $1,685.31 | $21.00 | +$10,382 |
| Step 3 | $45,232 | $1,739.69 | $21.67 | +$10,717 |
| Step 4 | $46,646 | $1,794.08 | $22.35 | +$11,052 |
| Step 5 | $48,060 | $1,848.46 | $23.03 | +$11,387 |
| Step 6 | $49,474 | $1,902.85 | $23.71 | +$11,722 |
| Step 7 | $50,888 | $1,957.23 | $24.38 | +$12,057 |
| Step 8 | $52,302 | $2,011.62 | $25.06 | +$12,392 |
| Step 9 | $53,716 | $2,066.00 | $25.74 | +$12,727 |
| Step 10 | $55,130 | $2,120.38 | $26.42 | +$13,062 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 31.05% 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 | $42,404 | $1,630.92 | $20.32 | +$10,047 |
| Step 2 | $43,818 | $1,685.31 | $21.00 | +$10,382 |
| Step 3 | $45,232 | $1,739.69 | $21.67 | +$10,717 |
| Step 4 | $46,646 | $1,794.08 | $22.35 | +$11,052 |
| Step 5 | $48,060 | $1,848.46 | $23.03 | +$11,387 |
| Step 6 | $49,474 | $1,902.85 | $23.71 | +$11,722 |
| Step 7 | $50,888 | $1,957.23 | $24.38 | +$12,057 |
| Step 8 | $52,302 | $2,011.62 | $25.06 | +$12,392 |
| Step 9 | $53,716 | $2,066.00 | $25.74 | +$12,727 |
| Step 10 | $55,130 | $2,120.38 | $26.42 | +$13,062 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Boston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Boston pay area adds a 31.05% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,631 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,120. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2023 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-5 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Boston?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $42,404 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,130. This is 31.05% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2023, it is 31.05%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,047 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,631 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.