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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$41,355 GS-5 Step 1 in St. Louis (2025)
$53,757 GS-5 Step 10 in St. Louis (2025)
+$6,901 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-5 pay table for St. Louis

Each step below already includes the 20.03% 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 $41,355 $1,590.58 $19.82 +$6,901
Step 2 $42,733 $1,643.58 $20.48 +$7,131
Step 3 $44,111 $1,696.58 $21.14 +$7,361
Step 4 $45,489 $1,749.58 $21.80 +$7,591
Step 5 $46,867 $1,802.58 $22.46 +$7,821
Step 6 $48,245 $1,855.58 $23.12 +$8,051
Step 7 $49,623 $1,908.58 $23.78 +$8,281
Step 8 $51,001 $1,961.58 $24.44 +$8,511
Step 9 $52,379 $2,014.58 $25.10 +$8,741
Step 10 $53,757 $2,067.58 $25.76 +$8,971
← GS-4 Calculate my take-home GS-6 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more St. Louis pays

  • Base GS-5 Step 1 $34,454
  • St. Louis GS-5 Step 1 $41,355
  • Locality add-on +$6,901
  • Adjustment percent 20.03%
  • Base GS-5 Step 10 $44,786
  • St. Louis GS-5 Step 10 $53,757

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 St. Louis: what to expect

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

For 2025, the St. Louis pay area adds a 20.03% 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 St. Louis

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $1,591 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,068. 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 St. Louis page.

Other grades in St. Louis

GS-5 in St. Louis questions

  • How much does a GS-5 make in St. Louis?
    In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns $41,355 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,757. This is 20.03% higher than the base GS-5 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in St. Louis?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For St. Louis in 2025, it is 20.03%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,901 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in St. Louis?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in St. Louis earns roughly $1,591 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.