An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$44,487 GS-5 Step 1 in Detroit (2025)
$57,828 GS-5 Step 10 in Detroit (2025)
+$10,033 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-5 pay table for Detroit

Each step below already includes the 29.12% 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 $44,487 $1,711.04 $21.32 +$10,033
Step 2 $45,969 $1,768.04 $22.03 +$10,367
Step 3 $47,452 $1,825.08 $22.74 +$10,702
Step 4 $48,934 $1,882.08 $23.45 +$11,036
Step 5 $50,416 $1,939.08 $24.16 +$11,370
Step 6 $51,898 $1,996.08 $24.87 +$11,704
Step 7 $53,381 $2,053.12 $25.58 +$12,039
Step 8 $54,863 $2,110.12 $26.29 +$12,373
Step 9 $56,345 $2,167.12 $27.00 +$12,707
Step 10 $57,828 $2,224.15 $27.71 +$13,042
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Detroit pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $34,454
  • Detroit GS-5 Step 1 $44,487
  • Locality add-on +$10,033
  • Adjustment percent 29.12%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,786
  • Detroit GS-5 Step 10 $57,828

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 Detroit: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Detroit pay area adds a 29.12% 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 Detroit

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Detroit earns roughly $1,711 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,224. 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 Detroit page.

Other grades in Detroit

GS-5 in Detroit questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in Detroit?
    In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Detroit earns $44,487 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $57,828. This is 29.12% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Detroit?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Detroit in 2025, it is 29.12%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,033 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Detroit?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Detroit earns roughly $1,711 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.