2026 GS-5 Pay in Buffalo
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY earn 22.41% 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 $42,597 in Buffalo.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Buffalo
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean, NY.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,597 | $1,638.35 | $20.41 | +$7,798 |
| Step 2 | $44,017 | $1,692.96 | $21.09 | +$8,058 |
| Step 3 | $45,437 | $1,747.58 | $21.77 | +$8,318 |
| Step 4 | $46,857 | $1,802.19 | $22.45 | +$8,578 |
| Step 5 | $48,277 | $1,856.81 | $23.13 | +$8,838 |
| Step 6 | $49,697 | $1,911.42 | $23.81 | +$9,098 |
| Step 7 | $51,117 | $1,966.04 | $24.49 | +$9,358 |
| Step 8 | $52,537 | $2,020.65 | $25.17 | +$9,618 |
| Step 9 | $53,957 | $2,075.27 | $25.85 | +$9,878 |
| Step 10 | $55,377 | $2,129.88 | $26.53 | +$10,138 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Buffalo
Each step below already includes the 22.41% 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 | $42,597 | $1,638.35 | $20.41 | +$7,798 |
| Step 2 | $44,017 | $1,692.96 | $21.09 | +$8,058 |
| Step 3 | $45,437 | $1,747.58 | $21.77 | +$8,318 |
| Step 4 | $46,857 | $1,802.19 | $22.45 | +$8,578 |
| Step 5 | $48,277 | $1,856.81 | $23.13 | +$8,838 |
| Step 6 | $49,697 | $1,911.42 | $23.81 | +$9,098 |
| Step 7 | $51,117 | $1,966.04 | $24.49 | +$9,358 |
| Step 8 | $52,537 | $2,020.65 | $25.17 | +$9,618 |
| Step 9 | $53,957 | $2,075.27 | $25.85 | +$9,878 |
| Step 10 | $55,377 | $2,129.88 | $26.53 | +$10,138 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Buffalo pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Buffalo: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Buffalo pay area adds a 22.41% 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 Buffalo
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $1,638 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,130. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Buffalo
GS-5 in Buffalo questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Buffalo?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns $42,597 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,377. This is 22.41% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Buffalo?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Buffalo in 2026, it is 22.41%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,798 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Buffalo?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Buffalo earns roughly $1,638 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.