2025 GS-5 Pay in Boston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,454 on the base table to $45,679 in Boston.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,679 | $1,756.88 | $21.89 | +$11,225 |
| Step 2 | $47,201 | $1,815.42 | $22.62 | +$11,599 |
| Step 3 | $48,723 | $1,873.96 | $23.35 | +$11,973 |
| Step 4 | $50,245 | $1,932.50 | $24.08 | +$12,347 |
| Step 5 | $51,767 | $1,991.04 | $24.80 | +$12,721 |
| Step 6 | $53,289 | $2,049.58 | $25.53 | +$13,095 |
| Step 7 | $54,811 | $2,108.12 | $26.26 | +$13,469 |
| Step 8 | $56,333 | $2,166.65 | $26.99 | +$13,843 |
| Step 9 | $57,855 | $2,225.19 | $27.72 | +$14,217 |
| Step 10 | $59,377 | $2,283.73 | $28.45 | +$14,591 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 | $45,679 | $1,756.88 | $21.89 | +$11,225 |
| Step 2 | $47,201 | $1,815.42 | $22.62 | +$11,599 |
| Step 3 | $48,723 | $1,873.96 | $23.35 | +$11,973 |
| Step 4 | $50,245 | $1,932.50 | $24.08 | +$12,347 |
| Step 5 | $51,767 | $1,991.04 | $24.80 | +$12,721 |
| Step 6 | $53,289 | $2,049.58 | $25.53 | +$13,095 |
| Step 7 | $54,811 | $2,108.12 | $26.26 | +$13,469 |
| Step 8 | $56,333 | $2,166.65 | $26.99 | +$13,843 |
| Step 9 | $57,855 | $2,225.19 | $27.72 | +$14,217 |
| Step 10 | $59,377 | $2,283.73 | $28.45 | +$14,591 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Boston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,757 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,284. 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 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-5 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Boston?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $45,679 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,377. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2025, it is 32.58%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,225 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,757 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.