2026 GS-5 Pay in Los Angeles
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA earn 36.47% 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 $47,490 in Los Angeles.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Los Angeles
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $47,490 | $1,826.54 | $22.76 | +$12,691 |
| Step 2 | $49,073 | $1,887.42 | $23.51 | +$13,114 |
| Step 3 | $50,656 | $1,948.31 | $24.27 | +$13,537 |
| Step 4 | $52,239 | $2,009.19 | $25.03 | +$13,960 |
| Step 5 | $53,822 | $2,070.08 | $25.79 | +$14,383 |
| Step 6 | $55,405 | $2,130.96 | $26.55 | +$14,806 |
| Step 7 | $56,989 | $2,191.88 | $27.31 | +$15,230 |
| Step 8 | $58,572 | $2,252.77 | $28.07 | +$15,653 |
| Step 9 | $60,155 | $2,313.65 | $28.82 | +$16,076 |
| Step 10 | $61,738 | $2,374.54 | $29.58 | +$16,499 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Los Angeles
Each step below already includes the 36.47% 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 | $47,490 | $1,826.54 | $22.76 | +$12,691 |
| Step 2 | $49,073 | $1,887.42 | $23.51 | +$13,114 |
| Step 3 | $50,656 | $1,948.31 | $24.27 | +$13,537 |
| Step 4 | $52,239 | $2,009.19 | $25.03 | +$13,960 |
| Step 5 | $53,822 | $2,070.08 | $25.79 | +$14,383 |
| Step 6 | $55,405 | $2,130.96 | $26.55 | +$14,806 |
| Step 7 | $56,989 | $2,191.88 | $27.31 | +$15,230 |
| Step 8 | $58,572 | $2,252.77 | $28.07 | +$15,653 |
| Step 9 | $60,155 | $2,313.65 | $28.82 | +$16,076 |
| Step 10 | $61,738 | $2,374.54 | $29.58 | +$16,499 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Los Angeles pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Los Angeles: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Los Angeles pay area adds a 36.47% 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 Los Angeles
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $1,827 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,375. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Los Angeles
GS-5 in Los Angeles questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Los Angeles?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns $47,490 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $61,738. This is 36.47% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Los Angeles?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Los Angeles in 2026, it is 36.47%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,691 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Los Angeles?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Los Angeles earns roughly $1,827 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.