2026 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD earn 28.99% 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 $44,887 in Philadelphia.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Philadelphia
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Philadelphia-Reading-Camden, PA-NJ-DE-MD.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $44,887 | $1,726.42 | $21.51 | +$10,088 |
| Step 2 | $46,384 | $1,784.00 | $22.23 | +$10,425 |
| Step 3 | $47,880 | $1,841.54 | $22.94 | +$10,761 |
| Step 4 | $49,376 | $1,899.08 | $23.66 | +$11,097 |
| Step 5 | $50,872 | $1,956.62 | $24.38 | +$11,433 |
| Step 6 | $52,369 | $2,014.19 | $25.09 | +$11,770 |
| Step 7 | $53,865 | $2,071.73 | $25.81 | +$12,106 |
| Step 8 | $55,361 | $2,129.27 | $26.53 | +$12,442 |
| Step 9 | $56,858 | $2,186.85 | $27.24 | +$12,779 |
| Step 10 | $58,354 | $2,244.38 | $27.96 | +$13,115 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Philadelphia
Each step below already includes the 28.99% 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 | $44,887 | $1,726.42 | $21.51 | +$10,088 |
| Step 2 | $46,384 | $1,784.00 | $22.23 | +$10,425 |
| Step 3 | $47,880 | $1,841.54 | $22.94 | +$10,761 |
| Step 4 | $49,376 | $1,899.08 | $23.66 | +$11,097 |
| Step 5 | $50,872 | $1,956.62 | $24.38 | +$11,433 |
| Step 6 | $52,369 | $2,014.19 | $25.09 | +$11,770 |
| Step 7 | $53,865 | $2,071.73 | $25.81 | +$12,106 |
| Step 8 | $55,361 | $2,129.27 | $26.53 | +$12,442 |
| Step 9 | $56,858 | $2,186.85 | $27.24 | +$12,779 |
| Step 10 | $58,354 | $2,244.38 | $27.96 | +$13,115 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Philadelphia pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Philadelphia: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Philadelphia pay area adds a 28.99% 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 Philadelphia
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,726 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,244. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Philadelphia
GS-5 in Philadelphia questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Philadelphia?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns $44,887 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,354. This is 28.99% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Philadelphia in 2026, it is 28.99%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,088 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Philadelphia?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Philadelphia earns roughly $1,726 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.