2025 GS-5 Pay in Denver
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $44,969 in Denver.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $44,969 | $1,729.58 | $21.55 | +$10,515 |
| Step 2 | $46,468 | $1,787.23 | $22.27 | +$10,866 |
| Step 3 | $47,966 | $1,844.85 | $22.98 | +$11,216 |
| Step 4 | $49,464 | $1,902.46 | $23.70 | +$11,566 |
| Step 5 | $50,963 | $1,960.12 | $24.42 | +$11,917 |
| Step 6 | $52,461 | $2,017.73 | $25.14 | +$12,267 |
| Step 7 | $53,960 | $2,075.38 | $25.86 | +$12,618 |
| Step 8 | $55,458 | $2,133.00 | $26.57 | +$12,968 |
| Step 9 | $56,956 | $2,190.62 | $27.29 | +$13,318 |
| Step 10 | $58,455 | $2,248.27 | $28.01 | +$13,669 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $44,969 | $1,729.58 | $21.55 | +$10,515 |
| Step 2 | $46,468 | $1,787.23 | $22.27 | +$10,866 |
| Step 3 | $47,966 | $1,844.85 | $22.98 | +$11,216 |
| Step 4 | $49,464 | $1,902.46 | $23.70 | +$11,566 |
| Step 5 | $50,963 | $1,960.12 | $24.42 | +$11,917 |
| Step 6 | $52,461 | $2,017.73 | $25.14 | +$12,267 |
| Step 7 | $53,960 | $2,075.38 | $25.86 | +$12,618 |
| Step 8 | $55,458 | $2,133.00 | $26.57 | +$12,968 |
| Step 9 | $56,956 | $2,190.62 | $27.29 | +$13,318 |
| Step 10 | $58,455 | $2,248.27 | $28.01 | +$13,669 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Denver: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,730 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,248. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-5 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Denver?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $44,969 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,455. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2025, it is 30.52%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,515 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $1,730 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.