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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$41,465 GS-5 Step 1 in Austin (2025)
$53,900 GS-5 Step 10 in Austin (2025)
+$7,011 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-5 pay table for Austin

Each step below already includes the 20.35% 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 $41,465 $1,594.81 $19.87 +$7,011
Step 2 $42,847 $1,647.96 $20.53 +$7,245
Step 3 $44,229 $1,701.12 $21.19 +$7,479
Step 4 $45,610 $1,754.23 $21.85 +$7,712
Step 5 $46,992 $1,807.38 $22.52 +$7,946
Step 6 $48,373 $1,860.50 $23.18 +$8,179
Step 7 $49,755 $1,913.65 $23.84 +$8,413
Step 8 $51,137 $1,966.81 $24.50 +$8,647
Step 9 $52,518 $2,019.92 $25.16 +$8,880
Step 10 $53,900 $2,073.08 $25.83 +$9,114

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Austin pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $34,454
  • Austin GS-5 Step 1 $41,465
  • Locality add-on +$7,011
  • Adjustment percent 20.35%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,786
  • Austin GS-5 Step 10 $53,900

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 Austin: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Austin pay area adds a 20.35% 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 Austin

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,595 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,073. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2025 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 Austin page.

Other grades in Austin

GS-5 in Austin questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in Austin?
    In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns $41,465 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,900. This is 20.35% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Austin?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Austin in 2025, it is 20.35%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,011 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Austin?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,595 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.