2023 GS-5 Pay in Houston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 34.47% 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 $43,510 in Houston.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $43,510 | $1,673.46 | $20.85 | +$11,153 |
| Step 2 | $44,961 | $1,729.27 | $21.54 | +$11,525 |
| Step 3 | $46,412 | $1,785.08 | $22.24 | +$11,897 |
| Step 4 | $47,863 | $1,840.88 | $22.93 | +$12,269 |
| Step 5 | $49,314 | $1,896.69 | $23.63 | +$12,641 |
| Step 6 | $50,765 | $1,952.50 | $24.32 | +$13,013 |
| Step 7 | $52,216 | $2,008.31 | $25.02 | +$13,385 |
| Step 8 | $53,667 | $2,064.12 | $25.71 | +$13,757 |
| Step 9 | $55,118 | $2,119.92 | $26.41 | +$14,129 |
| Step 10 | $56,569 | $2,175.73 | $27.11 | +$14,501 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 34.47% 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 | $43,510 | $1,673.46 | $20.85 | +$11,153 |
| Step 2 | $44,961 | $1,729.27 | $21.54 | +$11,525 |
| Step 3 | $46,412 | $1,785.08 | $22.24 | +$11,897 |
| Step 4 | $47,863 | $1,840.88 | $22.93 | +$12,269 |
| Step 5 | $49,314 | $1,896.69 | $23.63 | +$12,641 |
| Step 6 | $50,765 | $1,952.50 | $24.32 | +$13,013 |
| Step 7 | $52,216 | $2,008.31 | $25.02 | +$13,385 |
| Step 8 | $53,667 | $2,064.12 | $25.71 | +$13,757 |
| Step 9 | $55,118 | $2,119.92 | $26.41 | +$14,129 |
| Step 10 | $56,569 | $2,175.73 | $27.11 | +$14,501 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Houston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Houston pay area adds a 34.47% 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 Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,673 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,176. 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 Houston page.
Other grades in Houston
GS-5 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Houston?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $43,510 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $56,569. This is 34.47% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2023, it is 34.47%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,153 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,673 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.