2024 GS-5 Pay in Houston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 34.72% 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 $45,640 in Houston.
2024 GS-5 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,640 | $1,755.38 | $21.87 | +$11,762 |
| Step 2 | $47,161 | $1,813.88 | $22.60 | +$12,154 |
| Step 3 | $48,682 | $1,872.38 | $23.33 | +$12,546 |
| Step 4 | $50,203 | $1,930.88 | $24.06 | +$12,938 |
| Step 5 | $51,724 | $1,989.38 | $24.78 | +$13,330 |
| Step 6 | $53,245 | $2,047.88 | $25.51 | +$13,722 |
| Step 7 | $54,766 | $2,106.38 | $26.24 | +$14,114 |
| Step 8 | $56,287 | $2,164.88 | $26.97 | +$14,506 |
| Step 9 | $57,808 | $2,223.38 | $27.70 | +$14,898 |
| Step 10 | $59,329 | $2,281.88 | $28.43 | +$15,290 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 34.72% 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 | $45,640 | $1,755.38 | $21.87 | +$11,762 |
| Step 2 | $47,161 | $1,813.88 | $22.60 | +$12,154 |
| Step 3 | $48,682 | $1,872.38 | $23.33 | +$12,546 |
| Step 4 | $50,203 | $1,930.88 | $24.06 | +$12,938 |
| Step 5 | $51,724 | $1,989.38 | $24.78 | +$13,330 |
| Step 6 | $53,245 | $2,047.88 | $25.51 | +$13,722 |
| Step 7 | $54,766 | $2,106.38 | $26.24 | +$14,114 |
| Step 8 | $56,287 | $2,164.88 | $26.97 | +$14,506 |
| Step 9 | $57,808 | $2,223.38 | $27.70 | +$14,898 |
| Step 10 | $59,329 | $2,281.88 | $28.43 | +$15,290 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Houston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2024, the Houston pay area adds a 34.72% 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 Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,755 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,282. 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 Houston page.
Other grades in Houston
GS-5 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Houston?
In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $45,640 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,329. This is 34.72% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2024, it is 34.72%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,762 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,755 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.