2026 GS-5 Pay in Houston
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Houston-The Woodlands, TX earn 35.00% 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 $46,979 in Houston.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Houston
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Houston-The Woodlands, TX.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $46,979 | $1,806.88 | $22.51 | +$12,180 |
| Step 2 | $48,545 | $1,867.12 | $23.26 | +$12,586 |
| Step 3 | $50,111 | $1,927.35 | $24.01 | +$12,992 |
| Step 4 | $51,677 | $1,987.58 | $24.76 | +$13,398 |
| Step 5 | $53,243 | $2,047.81 | $25.51 | +$13,804 |
| Step 6 | $54,809 | $2,108.04 | $26.26 | +$14,210 |
| Step 7 | $56,375 | $2,168.27 | $27.01 | +$14,616 |
| Step 8 | $57,941 | $2,228.50 | $27.76 | +$15,022 |
| Step 9 | $59,507 | $2,288.73 | $28.51 | +$15,428 |
| Step 10 | $61,073 | $2,348.96 | $29.26 | +$15,834 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Houston
Each step below already includes the 35.00% 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 | $46,979 | $1,806.88 | $22.51 | +$12,180 |
| Step 2 | $48,545 | $1,867.12 | $23.26 | +$12,586 |
| Step 3 | $50,111 | $1,927.35 | $24.01 | +$12,992 |
| Step 4 | $51,677 | $1,987.58 | $24.76 | +$13,398 |
| Step 5 | $53,243 | $2,047.81 | $25.51 | +$13,804 |
| Step 6 | $54,809 | $2,108.04 | $26.26 | +$14,210 |
| Step 7 | $56,375 | $2,168.27 | $27.01 | +$14,616 |
| Step 8 | $57,941 | $2,228.50 | $27.76 | +$15,022 |
| Step 9 | $59,507 | $2,288.73 | $28.51 | +$15,428 |
| Step 10 | $61,073 | $2,348.96 | $29.26 | +$15,834 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Houston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Houston: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Houston pay area adds a 35.00% 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 Houston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,807 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,349. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Houston
GS-5 in Houston questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Houston?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $46,979 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $61,073. This is 35.00% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Houston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Houston in 2026, it is 35.00%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,180 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Houston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Houston earns roughly $1,807 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.