2025 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Seattle-Tacoma, WA earn 31.57% 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 $45,331 in Seattle.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Seattle
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Seattle-Tacoma, WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $45,331 | $1,743.50 | $21.72 | +$10,877 |
| Step 2 | $46,842 | $1,801.62 | $22.44 | +$11,240 |
| Step 3 | $48,352 | $1,859.69 | $23.17 | +$11,602 |
| Step 4 | $49,862 | $1,917.77 | $23.89 | +$11,964 |
| Step 5 | $51,373 | $1,975.88 | $24.62 | +$12,327 |
| Step 6 | $52,883 | $2,033.96 | $25.34 | +$12,689 |
| Step 7 | $54,394 | $2,092.08 | $26.06 | +$13,052 |
| Step 8 | $55,904 | $2,150.15 | $26.79 | +$13,414 |
| Step 9 | $57,415 | $2,208.27 | $27.51 | +$13,777 |
| Step 10 | $58,925 | $2,266.35 | $28.23 | +$14,139 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Seattle
Each step below already includes the 31.57% 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 | $45,331 | $1,743.50 | $21.72 | +$10,877 |
| Step 2 | $46,842 | $1,801.62 | $22.44 | +$11,240 |
| Step 3 | $48,352 | $1,859.69 | $23.17 | +$11,602 |
| Step 4 | $49,862 | $1,917.77 | $23.89 | +$11,964 |
| Step 5 | $51,373 | $1,975.88 | $24.62 | +$12,327 |
| Step 6 | $52,883 | $2,033.96 | $25.34 | +$12,689 |
| Step 7 | $54,394 | $2,092.08 | $26.06 | +$13,052 |
| Step 8 | $55,904 | $2,150.15 | $26.79 | +$13,414 |
| Step 9 | $57,415 | $2,208.27 | $27.51 | +$13,777 |
| Step 10 | $58,925 | $2,266.35 | $28.23 | +$14,139 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Seattle pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Seattle: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Seattle pay area adds a 31.57% 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 Seattle
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,744 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,266. 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 Seattle page.
Other grades in Seattle
GS-5 in Seattle questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Seattle?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns $45,331 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,925. This is 31.57% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Seattle?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Seattle in 2025, it is 31.57%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,877 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Seattle?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Seattle earns roughly $1,744 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.