2024 GS-5 Pay in Boston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 31.97% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $33,878 on the base table to $44,709 in Boston.
2024 GS-5 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $44,709 | $1,719.58 | $21.42 | +$10,831 |
| Step 2 | $46,199 | $1,776.88 | $22.14 | +$11,192 |
| Step 3 | $47,689 | $1,834.19 | $22.85 | +$11,553 |
| Step 4 | $49,179 | $1,891.50 | $23.56 | +$11,914 |
| Step 5 | $50,669 | $1,948.81 | $24.28 | +$12,275 |
| Step 6 | $52,159 | $2,006.12 | $24.99 | +$12,636 |
| Step 7 | $53,648 | $2,063.38 | $25.71 | +$12,996 |
| Step 8 | $55,138 | $2,120.69 | $26.42 | +$13,357 |
| Step 9 | $56,628 | $2,178.00 | $27.13 | +$13,718 |
| Step 10 | $58,118 | $2,235.31 | $27.85 | +$14,079 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 31.97% 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 | $44,709 | $1,719.58 | $21.42 | +$10,831 |
| Step 2 | $46,199 | $1,776.88 | $22.14 | +$11,192 |
| Step 3 | $47,689 | $1,834.19 | $22.85 | +$11,553 |
| Step 4 | $49,179 | $1,891.50 | $23.56 | +$11,914 |
| Step 5 | $50,669 | $1,948.81 | $24.28 | +$12,275 |
| Step 6 | $52,159 | $2,006.12 | $24.99 | +$12,636 |
| Step 7 | $53,648 | $2,063.38 | $25.71 | +$12,996 |
| Step 8 | $55,138 | $2,120.69 | $26.42 | +$13,357 |
| Step 9 | $56,628 | $2,178.00 | $27.13 | +$13,718 |
| Step 10 | $58,118 | $2,235.31 | $27.85 | +$14,079 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Boston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2024, the Boston pay area adds a 31.97% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,720 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,235. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-5 in Boston questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Boston?
In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $44,709 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,118. This is 31.97% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2024, it is 31.97%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,831 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,720 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.