2023 GS-5 Pay in Denver
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 29.05% 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 $41,757 in Denver.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,757 | $1,606.04 | $20.01 | +$9,400 |
| Step 2 | $43,149 | $1,659.58 | $20.68 | +$9,713 |
| Step 3 | $44,542 | $1,713.15 | $21.34 | +$10,027 |
| Step 4 | $45,934 | $1,766.69 | $22.01 | +$10,340 |
| Step 5 | $47,327 | $1,820.27 | $22.68 | +$10,654 |
| Step 6 | $48,719 | $1,873.81 | $23.34 | +$10,967 |
| Step 7 | $50,111 | $1,927.35 | $24.01 | +$11,280 |
| Step 8 | $51,504 | $1,980.92 | $24.68 | +$11,594 |
| Step 9 | $52,896 | $2,034.46 | $25.35 | +$11,907 |
| Step 10 | $54,289 | $2,088.04 | $26.01 | +$12,221 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 29.05% 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 | $41,757 | $1,606.04 | $20.01 | +$9,400 |
| Step 2 | $43,149 | $1,659.58 | $20.68 | +$9,713 |
| Step 3 | $44,542 | $1,713.15 | $21.34 | +$10,027 |
| Step 4 | $45,934 | $1,766.69 | $22.01 | +$10,340 |
| Step 5 | $47,327 | $1,820.27 | $22.68 | +$10,654 |
| Step 6 | $48,719 | $1,873.81 | $23.34 | +$10,967 |
| Step 7 | $50,111 | $1,927.35 | $24.01 | +$11,280 |
| Step 8 | $51,504 | $1,980.92 | $24.68 | +$11,594 |
| Step 9 | $52,896 | $2,034.46 | $25.35 | +$11,907 |
| Step 10 | $54,289 | $2,088.04 | $26.01 | +$12,221 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Denver: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Denver pay area adds a 29.05% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,606 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,088. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-5 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Denver?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $41,757 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,289. This is 29.05% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2023, it is 29.05%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,400 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,606 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.