2026 GS-5 Pay in Charlotte
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC earn 19.67% 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 $41,644 in Charlotte.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Charlotte
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,644 | $1,601.69 | $19.95 | +$6,845 |
| Step 2 | $43,032 | $1,655.08 | $20.62 | +$7,073 |
| Step 3 | $44,420 | $1,708.46 | $21.28 | +$7,301 |
| Step 4 | $45,808 | $1,761.85 | $21.95 | +$7,529 |
| Step 5 | $47,197 | $1,815.27 | $22.61 | +$7,758 |
| Step 6 | $48,585 | $1,868.65 | $23.28 | +$7,986 |
| Step 7 | $49,973 | $1,922.04 | $23.94 | +$8,214 |
| Step 8 | $51,361 | $1,975.42 | $24.61 | +$8,442 |
| Step 9 | $52,749 | $2,028.81 | $25.28 | +$8,670 |
| Step 10 | $54,138 | $2,082.23 | $25.94 | +$8,899 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Charlotte
Each step below already includes the 19.67% 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 | $41,644 | $1,601.69 | $19.95 | +$6,845 |
| Step 2 | $43,032 | $1,655.08 | $20.62 | +$7,073 |
| Step 3 | $44,420 | $1,708.46 | $21.28 | +$7,301 |
| Step 4 | $45,808 | $1,761.85 | $21.95 | +$7,529 |
| Step 5 | $47,197 | $1,815.27 | $22.61 | +$7,758 |
| Step 6 | $48,585 | $1,868.65 | $23.28 | +$7,986 |
| Step 7 | $49,973 | $1,922.04 | $23.94 | +$8,214 |
| Step 8 | $51,361 | $1,975.42 | $24.61 | +$8,442 |
| Step 9 | $52,749 | $2,028.81 | $25.28 | +$8,670 |
| Step 10 | $54,138 | $2,082.23 | $25.94 | +$8,899 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Charlotte pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Charlotte: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Charlotte pay area adds a 19.67% 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 Charlotte
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,602 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,082. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Charlotte
GS-5 in Charlotte questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Charlotte?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns $41,644 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,138. This is 19.67% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Charlotte?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Charlotte in 2026, it is 19.67%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,845 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Charlotte?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Charlotte earns roughly $1,602 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.