2025 GS-5 Pay in Columbus
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH earn 22.15% 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 $42,086 in Columbus.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Columbus
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Columbus-Marion-Zanesville, OH.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,086 | $1,618.69 | $20.17 | +$7,632 |
| Step 2 | $43,488 | $1,672.62 | $20.84 | +$7,886 |
| Step 3 | $44,890 | $1,726.54 | $21.51 | +$8,140 |
| Step 4 | $46,292 | $1,780.46 | $22.18 | +$8,394 |
| Step 5 | $47,695 | $1,834.42 | $22.85 | +$8,649 |
| Step 6 | $49,097 | $1,888.35 | $23.53 | +$8,903 |
| Step 7 | $50,499 | $1,942.27 | $24.20 | +$9,157 |
| Step 8 | $51,902 | $1,996.23 | $24.87 | +$9,412 |
| Step 9 | $53,304 | $2,050.15 | $25.54 | +$9,666 |
| Step 10 | $54,706 | $2,104.08 | $26.21 | +$9,920 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Columbus
Each step below already includes the 22.15% 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 | $42,086 | $1,618.69 | $20.17 | +$7,632 |
| Step 2 | $43,488 | $1,672.62 | $20.84 | +$7,886 |
| Step 3 | $44,890 | $1,726.54 | $21.51 | +$8,140 |
| Step 4 | $46,292 | $1,780.46 | $22.18 | +$8,394 |
| Step 5 | $47,695 | $1,834.42 | $22.85 | +$8,649 |
| Step 6 | $49,097 | $1,888.35 | $23.53 | +$8,903 |
| Step 7 | $50,499 | $1,942.27 | $24.20 | +$9,157 |
| Step 8 | $51,902 | $1,996.23 | $24.87 | +$9,412 |
| Step 9 | $53,304 | $2,050.15 | $25.54 | +$9,666 |
| Step 10 | $54,706 | $2,104.08 | $26.21 | +$9,920 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Columbus pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Columbus: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Columbus pay area adds a 22.15% 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 Columbus
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns roughly $1,619 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,104. 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 Columbus page.
Other grades in Columbus
GS-5 in Columbus questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Columbus?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns $42,086 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,706. This is 22.15% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Columbus?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Columbus in 2025, it is 22.15%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,632 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Columbus?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Columbus earns roughly $1,619 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.