2023 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 27.84% 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 $41,365 in Philadelphia.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,365 | $1,590.96 | $19.82 | +$9,008 |
| Step 2 | $42,745 | $1,644.04 | $20.48 | +$9,309 |
| Step 3 | $44,124 | $1,697.08 | $21.14 | +$9,609 |
| Step 4 | $45,503 | $1,750.12 | $21.80 | +$9,909 |
| Step 5 | $46,883 | $1,803.19 | $22.46 | +$10,210 |
| Step 6 | $48,262 | $1,856.23 | $23.13 | +$10,510 |
| Step 7 | $49,642 | $1,909.31 | $23.79 | +$10,811 |
| Step 8 | $51,021 | $1,962.35 | $24.45 | +$11,111 |
| Step 9 | $52,400 | $2,015.38 | $25.11 | +$11,411 |
| Step 10 | $53,780 | $2,068.46 | $25.77 | +$11,712 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 27.84% 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 | $41,365 | $1,590.96 | $19.82 | +$9,008 |
| Step 2 | $42,745 | $1,644.04 | $20.48 | +$9,309 |
| Step 3 | $44,124 | $1,697.08 | $21.14 | +$9,609 |
| Step 4 | $45,503 | $1,750.12 | $21.80 | +$9,909 |
| Step 5 | $46,883 | $1,803.19 | $22.46 | +$10,210 |
| Step 6 | $48,262 | $1,856.23 | $23.13 | +$10,510 |
| Step 7 | $49,642 | $1,909.31 | $23.79 | +$10,811 |
| Step 8 | $51,021 | $1,962.35 | $24.45 | +$11,111 |
| Step 9 | $52,400 | $2,015.38 | $25.11 | +$11,411 |
| Step 10 | $53,780 | $2,068.46 | $25.77 | +$11,712 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 27.84% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,591 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,068. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-5 in Philadelphia questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Philadelphia?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $41,365 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,780. This is 27.84% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2023, it is 27.84%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,008 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,591 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.