2026 GS-5 Pay in Cleveland
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA earn 22.23% 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 $42,535 in Cleveland.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Cleveland
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Cleveland-Akron-Canton, OH-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,535 | $1,635.96 | $20.38 | +$7,736 |
| Step 2 | $43,953 | $1,690.50 | $21.06 | +$7,994 |
| Step 3 | $45,371 | $1,745.04 | $21.74 | +$8,252 |
| Step 4 | $46,788 | $1,799.54 | $22.42 | +$8,509 |
| Step 5 | $48,206 | $1,854.08 | $23.10 | +$8,767 |
| Step 6 | $49,624 | $1,908.62 | $23.78 | +$9,025 |
| Step 7 | $51,042 | $1,963.15 | $24.46 | +$9,283 |
| Step 8 | $52,460 | $2,017.69 | $25.14 | +$9,541 |
| Step 9 | $53,878 | $2,072.23 | $25.82 | +$9,799 |
| Step 10 | $55,296 | $2,126.77 | $26.50 | +$10,057 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Cleveland
Each step below already includes the 22.23% 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 | $42,535 | $1,635.96 | $20.38 | +$7,736 |
| Step 2 | $43,953 | $1,690.50 | $21.06 | +$7,994 |
| Step 3 | $45,371 | $1,745.04 | $21.74 | +$8,252 |
| Step 4 | $46,788 | $1,799.54 | $22.42 | +$8,509 |
| Step 5 | $48,206 | $1,854.08 | $23.10 | +$8,767 |
| Step 6 | $49,624 | $1,908.62 | $23.78 | +$9,025 |
| Step 7 | $51,042 | $1,963.15 | $24.46 | +$9,283 |
| Step 8 | $52,460 | $2,017.69 | $25.14 | +$9,541 |
| Step 9 | $53,878 | $2,072.23 | $25.82 | +$9,799 |
| Step 10 | $55,296 | $2,126.77 | $26.50 | +$10,057 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Cleveland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Cleveland: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Cleveland pay area adds a 22.23% 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 Cleveland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $1,636 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,127. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Cleveland
GS-5 in Cleveland questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Cleveland?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns $42,535 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,296. This is 22.23% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Cleveland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Cleveland in 2026, it is 22.23%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,736 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Cleveland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Cleveland earns roughly $1,636 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.