2026 GS-5 Pay in Albany
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA earn 20.77% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,799 on the base table to $42,027 in Albany.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Albany
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Albany-Schenectady, NY-MA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,027 | $1,616.42 | $20.14 | +$7,228 |
| Step 2 | $43,428 | $1,670.31 | $20.81 | +$7,469 |
| Step 3 | $44,829 | $1,724.19 | $21.48 | +$7,710 |
| Step 4 | $46,230 | $1,778.08 | $22.15 | +$7,951 |
| Step 5 | $47,630 | $1,831.92 | $22.82 | +$8,191 |
| Step 6 | $49,031 | $1,885.81 | $23.49 | +$8,432 |
| Step 7 | $50,432 | $1,939.69 | $24.16 | +$8,673 |
| Step 8 | $51,833 | $1,993.58 | $24.84 | +$8,914 |
| Step 9 | $53,234 | $2,047.46 | $25.51 | +$9,155 |
| Step 10 | $54,635 | $2,101.35 | $26.18 | +$9,396 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Albany
Each step below already includes the 20.77% 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 | $42,027 | $1,616.42 | $20.14 | +$7,228 |
| Step 2 | $43,428 | $1,670.31 | $20.81 | +$7,469 |
| Step 3 | $44,829 | $1,724.19 | $21.48 | +$7,710 |
| Step 4 | $46,230 | $1,778.08 | $22.15 | +$7,951 |
| Step 5 | $47,630 | $1,831.92 | $22.82 | +$8,191 |
| Step 6 | $49,031 | $1,885.81 | $23.49 | +$8,432 |
| Step 7 | $50,432 | $1,939.69 | $24.16 | +$8,673 |
| Step 8 | $51,833 | $1,993.58 | $24.84 | +$8,914 |
| Step 9 | $53,234 | $2,047.46 | $25.51 | +$9,155 |
| Step 10 | $54,635 | $2,101.35 | $26.18 | +$9,396 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Albany pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Albany: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Albany pay area adds a 20.77% 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 Albany
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Albany earns roughly $1,616 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,101. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Albany
GS-5 in Albany questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Albany?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Albany earns $42,027 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,635. This is 20.77% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Albany?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Albany in 2026, it is 20.77%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,228 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Albany?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Albany earns roughly $1,616 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.