2026 GS-5 Pay in Boston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% 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 $46,137 in Boston.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $46,137 | $1,774.50 | $22.11 | +$11,338 |
| Step 2 | $47,674 | $1,833.62 | $22.84 | +$11,715 |
| Step 3 | $49,212 | $1,892.77 | $23.58 | +$12,093 |
| Step 4 | $50,750 | $1,951.92 | $24.32 | +$12,471 |
| Step 5 | $52,288 | $2,011.08 | $25.05 | +$12,849 |
| Step 6 | $53,826 | $2,070.23 | $25.79 | +$13,227 |
| Step 7 | $55,364 | $2,129.38 | $26.53 | +$13,605 |
| Step 8 | $56,902 | $2,188.54 | $27.26 | +$13,983 |
| Step 9 | $58,440 | $2,247.69 | $28.00 | +$14,361 |
| Step 10 | $59,978 | $2,306.85 | $28.74 | +$14,739 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 | $46,137 | $1,774.50 | $22.11 | +$11,338 |
| Step 2 | $47,674 | $1,833.62 | $22.84 | +$11,715 |
| Step 3 | $49,212 | $1,892.77 | $23.58 | +$12,093 |
| Step 4 | $50,750 | $1,951.92 | $24.32 | +$12,471 |
| Step 5 | $52,288 | $2,011.08 | $25.05 | +$12,849 |
| Step 6 | $53,826 | $2,070.23 | $25.79 | +$13,227 |
| Step 7 | $55,364 | $2,129.38 | $26.53 | +$13,605 |
| Step 8 | $56,902 | $2,188.54 | $27.26 | +$13,983 |
| Step 9 | $58,440 | $2,247.69 | $28.00 | +$14,361 |
| Step 10 | $59,978 | $2,306.85 | $28.74 | +$14,739 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Boston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston 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.
Other grades in Boston
GS-5 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Boston?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $46,137 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,978. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2026, it is 32.58%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,338 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $1,775 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.