2023 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 16.50% 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 $37,696 in Rest of U.S..
2023 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,696 | $1,449.85 | $18.06 | +$5,339 |
| Step 2 | $38,953 | $1,498.19 | $18.66 | +$5,517 |
| Step 3 | $40,210 | $1,546.54 | $19.27 | +$5,695 |
| Step 4 | $41,467 | $1,594.88 | $19.87 | +$5,873 |
| Step 5 | $42,724 | $1,643.23 | $20.47 | +$6,051 |
| Step 6 | $43,981 | $1,691.58 | $21.07 | +$6,229 |
| Step 7 | $45,238 | $1,739.92 | $21.68 | +$6,407 |
| Step 8 | $46,495 | $1,788.27 | $22.28 | +$6,585 |
| Step 9 | $47,752 | $1,836.62 | $22.88 | +$6,763 |
| Step 10 | $49,009 | $1,884.96 | $23.48 | +$6,941 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 16.50% 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 | $37,696 | $1,449.85 | $18.06 | +$5,339 |
| Step 2 | $38,953 | $1,498.19 | $18.66 | +$5,517 |
| Step 3 | $40,210 | $1,546.54 | $19.27 | +$5,695 |
| Step 4 | $41,467 | $1,594.88 | $19.87 | +$5,873 |
| Step 5 | $42,724 | $1,643.23 | $20.47 | +$6,051 |
| Step 6 | $43,981 | $1,691.58 | $21.07 | +$6,229 |
| Step 7 | $45,238 | $1,739.92 | $21.68 | +$6,407 |
| Step 8 | $46,495 | $1,788.27 | $22.28 | +$6,585 |
| Step 9 | $47,752 | $1,836.62 | $22.88 | +$6,763 |
| Step 10 | $49,009 | $1,884.96 | $23.48 | +$6,941 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.50% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,450 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,885. 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 Rest of U.S. page.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 in Rest of U.S. questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $37,696 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,009. This is 16.50% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2023, it is 16.50%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,339 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,450 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.