2025 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 33.94% 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 $46,148 in Washington DC.
2025 GS-5 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $46,148 | $1,774.92 | $22.11 | +$11,694 |
| Step 2 | $47,685 | $1,834.04 | $22.85 | +$12,083 |
| Step 3 | $49,223 | $1,893.19 | $23.59 | +$12,473 |
| Step 4 | $50,761 | $1,952.35 | $24.32 | +$12,863 |
| Step 5 | $52,298 | $2,011.46 | $25.06 | +$13,252 |
| Step 6 | $53,836 | $2,070.62 | $25.80 | +$13,642 |
| Step 7 | $55,373 | $2,129.73 | $26.53 | +$14,031 |
| Step 8 | $56,911 | $2,188.88 | $27.27 | +$14,421 |
| Step 9 | $58,449 | $2,248.04 | $28.01 | +$14,811 |
| Step 10 | $59,986 | $2,307.15 | $28.74 | +$15,200 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 33.94% 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 | $46,148 | $1,774.92 | $22.11 | +$11,694 |
| Step 2 | $47,685 | $1,834.04 | $22.85 | +$12,083 |
| Step 3 | $49,223 | $1,893.19 | $23.59 | +$12,473 |
| Step 4 | $50,761 | $1,952.35 | $24.32 | +$12,863 |
| Step 5 | $52,298 | $2,011.46 | $25.06 | +$13,252 |
| Step 6 | $53,836 | $2,070.62 | $25.80 | +$13,642 |
| Step 7 | $55,373 | $2,129.73 | $26.53 | +$14,031 |
| Step 8 | $56,911 | $2,188.88 | $27.27 | +$14,421 |
| Step 9 | $58,449 | $2,248.04 | $28.01 | +$14,811 |
| Step 10 | $59,986 | $2,307.15 | $28.74 | +$15,200 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Washington DC: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2025, the Washington DC pay area adds a 33.94% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,775 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,307. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-5 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Washington DC?
In 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $46,148 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,986. This is 33.94% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2025, it is 33.94%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,694 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,775 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.