2023 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 29.57% 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 $41,925 in Seattle.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,925 | $1,612.50 | $20.09 | +$9,568 |
| Step 2 | $43,323 | $1,666.27 | $20.76 | +$9,887 |
| Step 3 | $44,721 | $1,720.04 | $21.43 | +$10,206 |
| Step 4 | $46,119 | $1,773.81 | $22.10 | +$10,525 |
| Step 5 | $47,517 | $1,827.58 | $22.77 | +$10,844 |
| Step 6 | $48,915 | $1,881.35 | $23.44 | +$11,163 |
| Step 7 | $50,313 | $1,935.12 | $24.11 | +$11,482 |
| Step 8 | $51,711 | $1,988.88 | $24.78 | +$11,801 |
| Step 9 | $53,109 | $2,042.65 | $25.45 | +$12,120 |
| Step 10 | $54,508 | $2,096.46 | $26.12 | +$12,440 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 29.57% 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 | $41,925 | $1,612.50 | $20.09 | +$9,568 |
| Step 2 | $43,323 | $1,666.27 | $20.76 | +$9,887 |
| Step 3 | $44,721 | $1,720.04 | $21.43 | +$10,206 |
| Step 4 | $46,119 | $1,773.81 | $22.10 | +$10,525 |
| Step 5 | $47,517 | $1,827.58 | $22.77 | +$10,844 |
| Step 6 | $48,915 | $1,881.35 | $23.44 | +$11,163 |
| Step 7 | $50,313 | $1,935.12 | $24.11 | +$11,482 |
| Step 8 | $51,711 | $1,988.88 | $24.78 | +$11,801 |
| Step 9 | $53,109 | $2,042.65 | $25.45 | +$12,120 |
| Step 10 | $54,508 | $2,096.46 | $26.12 | +$12,440 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Seattle: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Seattle pay area adds a 29.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,613 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,096. 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 Seattle page.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-5 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Seattle?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $41,925 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,508. This is 29.57% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2023, it is 29.57%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,568 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,613 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.