2026 GS-5 Pay in Birmingham
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL earn 18.24% 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 $41,146 in Birmingham.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Birmingham
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega, AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,146 | $1,582.54 | $19.72 | +$6,347 |
| Step 2 | $42,518 | $1,635.31 | $20.37 | +$6,559 |
| Step 3 | $43,890 | $1,688.08 | $21.03 | +$6,771 |
| Step 4 | $45,261 | $1,740.81 | $21.69 | +$6,982 |
| Step 5 | $46,633 | $1,793.58 | $22.34 | +$7,194 |
| Step 6 | $48,004 | $1,846.31 | $23.00 | +$7,405 |
| Step 7 | $49,376 | $1,899.08 | $23.66 | +$7,617 |
| Step 8 | $50,747 | $1,951.81 | $24.32 | +$7,828 |
| Step 9 | $52,119 | $2,004.58 | $24.97 | +$8,040 |
| Step 10 | $53,491 | $2,057.35 | $25.63 | +$8,252 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Birmingham
Each step below already includes the 18.24% 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 | $41,146 | $1,582.54 | $19.72 | +$6,347 |
| Step 2 | $42,518 | $1,635.31 | $20.37 | +$6,559 |
| Step 3 | $43,890 | $1,688.08 | $21.03 | +$6,771 |
| Step 4 | $45,261 | $1,740.81 | $21.69 | +$6,982 |
| Step 5 | $46,633 | $1,793.58 | $22.34 | +$7,194 |
| Step 6 | $48,004 | $1,846.31 | $23.00 | +$7,405 |
| Step 7 | $49,376 | $1,899.08 | $23.66 | +$7,617 |
| Step 8 | $50,747 | $1,951.81 | $24.32 | +$7,828 |
| Step 9 | $52,119 | $2,004.58 | $24.97 | +$8,040 |
| Step 10 | $53,491 | $2,057.35 | $25.63 | +$8,252 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Birmingham pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Birmingham: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Birmingham pay area adds a 18.24% 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 Birmingham
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Birmingham earns roughly $1,583 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,057. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Birmingham
GS-5 in Birmingham questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Birmingham?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Birmingham earns $41,146 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,491. This is 18.24% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Birmingham?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Birmingham in 2026, it is 18.24%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,347 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Birmingham?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Birmingham earns roughly $1,583 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.