2026 GS-5 Pay in Huntsville
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN earn 21.91% 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 $42,423 in Huntsville.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Huntsville
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Huntsville-Decatur, AL-TN.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,423 | $1,631.65 | $20.33 | +$7,624 |
| Step 2 | $43,838 | $1,686.08 | $21.01 | +$7,879 |
| Step 3 | $45,252 | $1,740.46 | $21.68 | +$8,133 |
| Step 4 | $46,666 | $1,794.85 | $22.36 | +$8,387 |
| Step 5 | $48,080 | $1,849.23 | $23.04 | +$8,641 |
| Step 6 | $49,494 | $1,903.62 | $23.72 | +$8,895 |
| Step 7 | $50,908 | $1,958.00 | $24.39 | +$9,149 |
| Step 8 | $52,323 | $2,012.42 | $25.07 | +$9,404 |
| Step 9 | $53,737 | $2,066.81 | $25.75 | +$9,658 |
| Step 10 | $55,151 | $2,121.19 | $26.43 | +$9,912 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Huntsville
Each step below already includes the 21.91% 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 | $42,423 | $1,631.65 | $20.33 | +$7,624 |
| Step 2 | $43,838 | $1,686.08 | $21.01 | +$7,879 |
| Step 3 | $45,252 | $1,740.46 | $21.68 | +$8,133 |
| Step 4 | $46,666 | $1,794.85 | $22.36 | +$8,387 |
| Step 5 | $48,080 | $1,849.23 | $23.04 | +$8,641 |
| Step 6 | $49,494 | $1,903.62 | $23.72 | +$8,895 |
| Step 7 | $50,908 | $1,958.00 | $24.39 | +$9,149 |
| Step 8 | $52,323 | $2,012.42 | $25.07 | +$9,404 |
| Step 9 | $53,737 | $2,066.81 | $25.75 | +$9,658 |
| Step 10 | $55,151 | $2,121.19 | $26.43 | +$9,912 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Huntsville pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Huntsville: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Huntsville pay area adds a 21.91% 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 Huntsville
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Huntsville earns roughly $1,632 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,121. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Huntsville
GS-5 in Huntsville questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Huntsville?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Huntsville earns $42,423 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,151. This is 21.91% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Huntsville?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Huntsville in 2026, it is 21.91%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,624 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Huntsville?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Huntsville earns roughly $1,632 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.