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

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$40,490 GS-5 Step 1 in Reno (2025)
$52,633 GS-5 Step 10 in Reno (2025)
+$6,036 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-5 pay table for Reno

Each step below already includes the 17.52% 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 $40,490 $1,557.31 $19.40 +$6,036
Step 2 $41,839 $1,609.19 $20.05 +$6,237
Step 3 $43,189 $1,661.12 $20.69 +$6,439
Step 4 $44,538 $1,713.00 $21.34 +$6,640
Step 5 $45,887 $1,764.88 $21.99 +$6,841
Step 6 $47,236 $1,816.77 $22.63 +$7,042
Step 7 $48,585 $1,868.65 $23.28 +$7,243
Step 8 $49,934 $1,920.54 $23.93 +$7,444
Step 9 $51,283 $1,972.42 $24.57 +$7,645
Step 10 $52,633 $2,024.35 $25.22 +$7,847

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Reno pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $34,454
  • Reno GS-5 Step 1 $40,490
  • Locality add-on +$6,036
  • Adjustment percent 17.52%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,786
  • Reno GS-5 Step 10 $52,633

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 Reno: what to expect

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

For 2025, the Reno pay area adds a 17.52% 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 Reno

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Reno earns roughly $1,557 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,024. 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 Reno page.

Other grades in Reno

GS-5 in Reno questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in Reno?
    In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Reno earns $40,490 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,633. This is 17.52% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Reno?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Reno in 2025, it is 17.52%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,036 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Reno?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Reno earns roughly $1,557 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.