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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$40,403 GS-5 Step 1 in Charlotte (2024)
$52,521 GS-5 Step 10 in Charlotte (2024)
+$6,525 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-5 pay table for Charlotte

Each step below already includes the 19.26% 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 $40,403 $1,553.96 $19.36 +$6,525
Step 2 $41,749 $1,605.73 $20.00 +$6,742
Step 3 $43,096 $1,657.54 $20.65 +$6,960
Step 4 $44,442 $1,709.31 $21.29 +$7,177
Step 5 $45,789 $1,761.12 $21.94 +$7,395
Step 6 $47,135 $1,812.88 $22.59 +$7,612
Step 7 $48,482 $1,864.69 $23.23 +$7,830
Step 8 $49,828 $1,916.46 $23.88 +$8,047
Step 9 $51,174 $1,968.23 $24.52 +$8,264
Step 10 $52,521 $2,020.04 $25.17 +$8,482
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Charlotte pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $33,878
  • Charlotte GS-5 Step 1 $40,403
  • Locality add-on +$6,525
  • Adjustment percent 19.26%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,039
  • Charlotte GS-5 Step 10 $52,521

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-5 in Charlotte: what to expect

Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.

For 2024, the Charlotte pay area adds a 19.26% 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 Charlotte

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,554 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,020. 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 Charlotte page.

Other grades in Charlotte

GS-5 in Charlotte questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in Charlotte?
    In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $40,403 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,521. This is 19.26% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Charlotte?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2024, it is 19.26%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,525 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Charlotte?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,554 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.