2026 GS-5 Pay in Austin
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX earn 20.35% 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 $41,881 in Austin.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Austin
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,881 | $1,610.81 | $20.07 | +$7,082 |
| Step 2 | $43,277 | $1,664.50 | $20.74 | +$7,318 |
| Step 3 | $44,673 | $1,718.19 | $21.41 | +$7,554 |
| Step 4 | $46,069 | $1,771.88 | $22.07 | +$7,790 |
| Step 5 | $47,465 | $1,825.58 | $22.74 | +$8,026 |
| Step 6 | $48,861 | $1,879.27 | $23.41 | +$8,262 |
| Step 7 | $50,257 | $1,932.96 | $24.08 | +$8,498 |
| Step 8 | $51,653 | $1,986.65 | $24.75 | +$8,734 |
| Step 9 | $53,049 | $2,040.35 | $25.42 | +$8,970 |
| Step 10 | $54,445 | $2,094.04 | $26.09 | +$9,206 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Austin
Each step below already includes the 20.35% 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 | $41,881 | $1,610.81 | $20.07 | +$7,082 |
| Step 2 | $43,277 | $1,664.50 | $20.74 | +$7,318 |
| Step 3 | $44,673 | $1,718.19 | $21.41 | +$7,554 |
| Step 4 | $46,069 | $1,771.88 | $22.07 | +$7,790 |
| Step 5 | $47,465 | $1,825.58 | $22.74 | +$8,026 |
| Step 6 | $48,861 | $1,879.27 | $23.41 | +$8,262 |
| Step 7 | $50,257 | $1,932.96 | $24.08 | +$8,498 |
| Step 8 | $51,653 | $1,986.65 | $24.75 | +$8,734 |
| Step 9 | $53,049 | $2,040.35 | $25.42 | +$8,970 |
| Step 10 | $54,445 | $2,094.04 | $26.09 | +$9,206 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Austin pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Austin: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Austin pay area adds a 20.35% 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 Austin
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,611 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,094. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Austin
GS-5 in Austin questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Austin?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns $41,881 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,445. This is 20.35% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Austin?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Austin in 2026, it is 20.35%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,082 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Austin?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Austin earns roughly $1,611 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.