2024 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.26% 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 $45,146 in Washington DC.
2024 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,146 | $1,736.38 | $21.63 | +$11,268 |
| Step 2 | $46,650 | $1,794.23 | $22.35 | +$11,643 |
| Step 3 | $48,155 | $1,852.12 | $23.07 | +$12,019 |
| Step 4 | $49,659 | $1,909.96 | $23.79 | +$12,394 |
| Step 5 | $51,164 | $1,967.85 | $24.52 | +$12,770 |
| Step 6 | $52,668 | $2,025.69 | $25.24 | +$13,145 |
| Step 7 | $54,173 | $2,083.58 | $25.96 | +$13,521 |
| Step 8 | $55,677 | $2,141.42 | $26.68 | +$13,896 |
| Step 9 | $57,182 | $2,199.31 | $27.40 | +$14,272 |
| Step 10 | $58,686 | $2,257.15 | $28.12 | +$14,647 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.26% 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 | $45,146 | $1,736.38 | $21.63 | +$11,268 |
| Step 2 | $46,650 | $1,794.23 | $22.35 | +$11,643 |
| Step 3 | $48,155 | $1,852.12 | $23.07 | +$12,019 |
| Step 4 | $49,659 | $1,909.96 | $23.79 | +$12,394 |
| Step 5 | $51,164 | $1,967.85 | $24.52 | +$12,770 |
| Step 6 | $52,668 | $2,025.69 | $25.24 | +$13,145 |
| Step 7 | $54,173 | $2,083.58 | $25.96 | +$13,521 |
| Step 8 | $55,677 | $2,141.42 | $26.68 | +$13,896 |
| Step 9 | $57,182 | $2,199.31 | $27.40 | +$14,272 |
| Step 10 | $58,686 | $2,257.15 | $28.12 | +$14,647 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2024, the Washington DC pay area adds a 33.26% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,736 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,257. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $45,146 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,686. This is 33.26% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2024, it is 33.26%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,268 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,736 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.