2025 GS-5 Pay in Cleveland
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA earn 22.23% 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 $42,113 in Cleveland.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Cleveland
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,113 | $1,619.73 | $20.18 | +$7,659 |
| Step 2 | $43,516 | $1,673.69 | $20.85 | +$7,914 |
| Step 3 | $44,920 | $1,727.69 | $21.52 | +$8,170 |
| Step 4 | $46,323 | $1,781.65 | $22.20 | +$8,425 |
| Step 5 | $47,726 | $1,835.62 | $22.87 | +$8,680 |
| Step 6 | $49,129 | $1,889.58 | $23.54 | +$8,935 |
| Step 7 | $50,532 | $1,943.54 | $24.21 | +$9,190 |
| Step 8 | $51,936 | $1,997.54 | $24.89 | +$9,446 |
| Step 9 | $53,339 | $2,051.50 | $25.56 | +$9,701 |
| Step 10 | $54,742 | $2,105.46 | $26.23 | +$9,956 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Cleveland
Each step below already includes the 22.23% 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 | $42,113 | $1,619.73 | $20.18 | +$7,659 |
| Step 2 | $43,516 | $1,673.69 | $20.85 | +$7,914 |
| Step 3 | $44,920 | $1,727.69 | $21.52 | +$8,170 |
| Step 4 | $46,323 | $1,781.65 | $22.20 | +$8,425 |
| Step 5 | $47,726 | $1,835.62 | $22.87 | +$8,680 |
| Step 6 | $49,129 | $1,889.58 | $23.54 | +$8,935 |
| Step 7 | $50,532 | $1,943.54 | $24.21 | +$9,190 |
| Step 8 | $51,936 | $1,997.54 | $24.89 | +$9,446 |
| Step 9 | $53,339 | $2,051.50 | $25.56 | +$9,701 |
| Step 10 | $54,742 | $2,105.46 | $26.23 | +$9,956 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Cleveland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Cleveland: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Cleveland pay area adds a 22.23% 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 Cleveland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $1,620 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,105. 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 Cleveland page.
Other grades in Cleveland
GS-5 in Cleveland questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Cleveland?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns $42,113 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,742. This is 22.23% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Cleveland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cleveland in 2025, it is 22.23%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,659 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Cleveland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $1,620 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.