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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$40,918 GS-5 Step 1 in Pittsburgh (2024)
$53,190 GS-5 Step 10 in Pittsburgh (2024)
+$7,040 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2024 GS-5 pay table for Pittsburgh

Each step below already includes the 20.78% 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 $40,918 $1,573.77 $19.61 +$7,040
Step 2 $42,281 $1,626.19 $20.26 +$7,274
Step 3 $43,645 $1,678.65 $20.91 +$7,509
Step 4 $45,009 $1,731.12 $21.57 +$7,744
Step 5 $46,372 $1,783.54 $22.22 +$7,978
Step 6 $47,736 $1,836.00 $22.87 +$8,213
Step 7 $49,099 $1,888.42 $23.53 +$8,447
Step 8 $50,463 $1,940.88 $24.18 +$8,682
Step 9 $51,827 $1,993.35 $24.83 +$8,917
Step 10 $53,190 $2,045.77 $25.49 +$9,151
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Pittsburgh pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $33,878
  • Pittsburgh GS-5 Step 1 $40,918
  • Locality add-on +$7,040
  • Adjustment percent 20.78%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,039
  • Pittsburgh GS-5 Step 10 $53,190

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 Pittsburgh: what to expect

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

For 2024, the Pittsburgh pay area adds a 20.78% 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 Pittsburgh

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $1,574 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,046. 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 Pittsburgh page.

Other grades in Pittsburgh

GS-5 in Pittsburgh questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in Pittsburgh?
    In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns $40,918 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,190. This is 20.78% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Pittsburgh?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Pittsburgh in 2024, it is 20.78%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,040 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Pittsburgh?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $1,574 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.