2024 GS-5 Pay in Denver
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 29.88% 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 $44,001 in Denver.
2024 GS-5 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $44,001 | $1,692.35 | $21.08 | +$10,123 |
| Step 2 | $45,467 | $1,748.73 | $21.79 | +$10,460 |
| Step 3 | $46,933 | $1,805.12 | $22.49 | +$10,797 |
| Step 4 | $48,400 | $1,861.54 | $23.19 | +$11,135 |
| Step 5 | $49,866 | $1,917.92 | $23.89 | +$11,472 |
| Step 6 | $51,332 | $1,974.31 | $24.60 | +$11,809 |
| Step 7 | $52,799 | $2,030.73 | $25.30 | +$12,147 |
| Step 8 | $54,265 | $2,087.12 | $26.00 | +$12,484 |
| Step 9 | $55,732 | $2,143.54 | $26.70 | +$12,822 |
| Step 10 | $57,198 | $2,199.92 | $27.41 | +$13,159 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 29.88% 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 | $44,001 | $1,692.35 | $21.08 | +$10,123 |
| Step 2 | $45,467 | $1,748.73 | $21.79 | +$10,460 |
| Step 3 | $46,933 | $1,805.12 | $22.49 | +$10,797 |
| Step 4 | $48,400 | $1,861.54 | $23.19 | +$11,135 |
| Step 5 | $49,866 | $1,917.92 | $23.89 | +$11,472 |
| Step 6 | $51,332 | $1,974.31 | $24.60 | +$11,809 |
| Step 7 | $52,799 | $2,030.73 | $25.30 | +$12,147 |
| Step 8 | $54,265 | $2,087.12 | $26.00 | +$12,484 |
| Step 9 | $55,732 | $2,143.54 | $26.70 | +$12,822 |
| Step 10 | $57,198 | $2,199.92 | $27.41 | +$13,159 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Denver: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2024, the Denver pay area adds a 29.88% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,692 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,200. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-5 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Denver?
In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $44,001 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $57,198. This is 29.88% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2024, it is 29.88%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,123 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,692 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.