2025 GS-5 Pay in Milwaukee
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI earn 22.42% 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 $42,179 in Milwaukee.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Milwaukee
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha, WI.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,179 | $1,622.27 | $20.21 | +$7,725 |
| Step 2 | $43,584 | $1,676.31 | $20.88 | +$7,982 |
| Step 3 | $44,989 | $1,730.35 | $21.56 | +$8,239 |
| Step 4 | $46,395 | $1,784.42 | $22.23 | +$8,497 |
| Step 5 | $47,800 | $1,838.46 | $22.90 | +$8,754 |
| Step 6 | $49,205 | $1,892.50 | $23.58 | +$9,011 |
| Step 7 | $50,611 | $1,946.58 | $24.25 | +$9,269 |
| Step 8 | $52,016 | $2,000.62 | $24.92 | +$9,526 |
| Step 9 | $53,422 | $2,054.69 | $25.60 | +$9,784 |
| Step 10 | $54,827 | $2,108.73 | $26.27 | +$10,041 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Milwaukee
Each step below already includes the 22.42% 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 | $42,179 | $1,622.27 | $20.21 | +$7,725 |
| Step 2 | $43,584 | $1,676.31 | $20.88 | +$7,982 |
| Step 3 | $44,989 | $1,730.35 | $21.56 | +$8,239 |
| Step 4 | $46,395 | $1,784.42 | $22.23 | +$8,497 |
| Step 5 | $47,800 | $1,838.46 | $22.90 | +$8,754 |
| Step 6 | $49,205 | $1,892.50 | $23.58 | +$9,011 |
| Step 7 | $50,611 | $1,946.58 | $24.25 | +$9,269 |
| Step 8 | $52,016 | $2,000.62 | $24.92 | +$9,526 |
| Step 9 | $53,422 | $2,054.69 | $25.60 | +$9,784 |
| Step 10 | $54,827 | $2,108.73 | $26.27 | +$10,041 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Milwaukee pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Milwaukee: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Milwaukee pay area adds a 22.42% 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 Milwaukee
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $1,622 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,109. 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 Milwaukee page.
Other grades in Milwaukee
GS-5 in Milwaukee questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Milwaukee?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns $42,179 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,827. This is 22.42% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Milwaukee?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Milwaukee in 2025, it is 22.42%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,725 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Milwaukee?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Milwaukee earns roughly $1,622 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.