2024 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.55% 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 $43,550 in Philadelphia.
2024 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $43,550 | $1,675.00 | $20.87 | +$9,672 |
| Step 2 | $45,001 | $1,730.81 | $21.56 | +$9,994 |
| Step 3 | $46,453 | $1,786.65 | $22.26 | +$10,317 |
| Step 4 | $47,904 | $1,842.46 | $22.95 | +$10,639 |
| Step 5 | $49,355 | $1,898.27 | $23.65 | +$10,961 |
| Step 6 | $50,807 | $1,954.12 | $24.34 | +$11,284 |
| Step 7 | $52,258 | $2,009.92 | $25.04 | +$11,606 |
| Step 8 | $53,709 | $2,065.73 | $25.74 | +$11,928 |
| Step 9 | $55,161 | $2,121.58 | $26.43 | +$12,251 |
| Step 10 | $56,612 | $2,177.38 | $27.13 | +$12,573 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.55% 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 | $43,550 | $1,675.00 | $20.87 | +$9,672 |
| Step 2 | $45,001 | $1,730.81 | $21.56 | +$9,994 |
| Step 3 | $46,453 | $1,786.65 | $22.26 | +$10,317 |
| Step 4 | $47,904 | $1,842.46 | $22.95 | +$10,639 |
| Step 5 | $49,355 | $1,898.27 | $23.65 | +$10,961 |
| Step 6 | $50,807 | $1,954.12 | $24.34 | +$11,284 |
| Step 7 | $52,258 | $2,009.92 | $25.04 | +$11,606 |
| Step 8 | $53,709 | $2,065.73 | $25.74 | +$11,928 |
| Step 9 | $55,161 | $2,121.58 | $26.43 | +$12,251 |
| Step 10 | $56,612 | $2,177.38 | $27.13 | +$12,573 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2024, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.55% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,675 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,177. 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 Philadelphia page.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-5 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Philadelphia?
In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $43,550 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $56,612. This is 28.55% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2024, it is 28.55%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,672 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,675 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.