2026 GS-5 Pay in Cincinnati
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN earn 21.93% 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 $42,430 in Cincinnati.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Cincinnati
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville, OH-KY-IN.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,430 | $1,631.92 | $20.33 | +$7,631 |
| Step 2 | $43,845 | $1,686.35 | $21.01 | +$7,886 |
| Step 3 | $45,259 | $1,740.73 | $21.69 | +$8,140 |
| Step 4 | $46,674 | $1,795.15 | $22.36 | +$8,395 |
| Step 5 | $48,088 | $1,849.54 | $23.04 | +$8,649 |
| Step 6 | $49,502 | $1,903.92 | $23.72 | +$8,903 |
| Step 7 | $50,917 | $1,958.35 | $24.40 | +$9,158 |
| Step 8 | $52,331 | $2,012.73 | $25.07 | +$9,412 |
| Step 9 | $53,746 | $2,067.15 | $25.75 | +$9,667 |
| Step 10 | $55,160 | $2,121.54 | $26.43 | +$9,921 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Cincinnati
Each step below already includes the 21.93% 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 | $42,430 | $1,631.92 | $20.33 | +$7,631 |
| Step 2 | $43,845 | $1,686.35 | $21.01 | +$7,886 |
| Step 3 | $45,259 | $1,740.73 | $21.69 | +$8,140 |
| Step 4 | $46,674 | $1,795.15 | $22.36 | +$8,395 |
| Step 5 | $48,088 | $1,849.54 | $23.04 | +$8,649 |
| Step 6 | $49,502 | $1,903.92 | $23.72 | +$8,903 |
| Step 7 | $50,917 | $1,958.35 | $24.40 | +$9,158 |
| Step 8 | $52,331 | $2,012.73 | $25.07 | +$9,412 |
| Step 9 | $53,746 | $2,067.15 | $25.75 | +$9,667 |
| Step 10 | $55,160 | $2,121.54 | $26.43 | +$9,921 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Cincinnati pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Cincinnati: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Cincinnati pay area adds a 21.93% 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 Cincinnati
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns roughly $1,632 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,122. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Cincinnati
GS-5 in Cincinnati questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Cincinnati?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns $42,430 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,160. This is 21.93% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Cincinnati?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cincinnati in 2026, it is 21.93%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,631 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Cincinnati?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cincinnati earns roughly $1,632 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.