2023 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 32.49% 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 $42,870 in Washington DC.
2023 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,870 | $1,648.85 | $20.54 | +$10,513 |
| Step 2 | $44,299 | $1,703.81 | $21.23 | +$10,863 |
| Step 3 | $45,729 | $1,758.81 | $21.91 | +$11,214 |
| Step 4 | $47,158 | $1,813.77 | $22.60 | +$11,564 |
| Step 5 | $48,588 | $1,868.77 | $23.28 | +$11,915 |
| Step 6 | $50,018 | $1,923.77 | $23.97 | +$12,266 |
| Step 7 | $51,447 | $1,978.73 | $24.65 | +$12,616 |
| Step 8 | $52,877 | $2,033.73 | $25.34 | +$12,967 |
| Step 9 | $54,306 | $2,088.69 | $26.02 | +$13,317 |
| Step 10 | $55,736 | $2,143.69 | $26.71 | +$13,668 |
2023 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 32.49% 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 | $42,870 | $1,648.85 | $20.54 | +$10,513 |
| Step 2 | $44,299 | $1,703.81 | $21.23 | +$10,863 |
| Step 3 | $45,729 | $1,758.81 | $21.91 | +$11,214 |
| Step 4 | $47,158 | $1,813.77 | $22.60 | +$11,564 |
| Step 5 | $48,588 | $1,868.77 | $23.28 | +$11,915 |
| Step 6 | $50,018 | $1,923.77 | $23.97 | +$12,266 |
| Step 7 | $51,447 | $1,978.73 | $24.65 | +$12,616 |
| Step 8 | $52,877 | $2,033.73 | $25.34 | +$12,967 |
| Step 9 | $54,306 | $2,088.69 | $26.02 | +$13,317 |
| Step 10 | $55,736 | $2,143.69 | $26.71 | +$13,668 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2023, the Washington DC pay area adds a 32.49% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,649 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,144. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $42,870 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,736. This is 32.49% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2023, it is 32.49%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,513 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,649 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.