2026 GS-5 Pay in Pittsburgh
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV earn 21.03% 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 $42,117 in Pittsburgh.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Pittsburgh
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,117 | $1,619.88 | $20.18 | +$7,318 |
| Step 2 | $43,521 | $1,673.88 | $20.85 | +$7,562 |
| Step 3 | $44,925 | $1,727.88 | $21.53 | +$7,806 |
| Step 4 | $46,329 | $1,781.88 | $22.20 | +$8,050 |
| Step 5 | $47,733 | $1,835.88 | $22.87 | +$8,294 |
| Step 6 | $49,137 | $1,889.88 | $23.54 | +$8,538 |
| Step 7 | $50,541 | $1,943.88 | $24.22 | +$8,782 |
| Step 8 | $51,945 | $1,997.88 | $24.89 | +$9,026 |
| Step 9 | $53,349 | $2,051.88 | $25.56 | +$9,270 |
| Step 10 | $54,753 | $2,105.88 | $26.24 | +$9,514 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Pittsburgh
Each step below already includes the 21.03% 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 | $42,117 | $1,619.88 | $20.18 | +$7,318 |
| Step 2 | $43,521 | $1,673.88 | $20.85 | +$7,562 |
| Step 3 | $44,925 | $1,727.88 | $21.53 | +$7,806 |
| Step 4 | $46,329 | $1,781.88 | $22.20 | +$8,050 |
| Step 5 | $47,733 | $1,835.88 | $22.87 | +$8,294 |
| Step 6 | $49,137 | $1,889.88 | $23.54 | +$8,538 |
| Step 7 | $50,541 | $1,943.88 | $24.22 | +$8,782 |
| Step 8 | $51,945 | $1,997.88 | $24.89 | +$9,026 |
| Step 9 | $53,349 | $2,051.88 | $25.56 | +$9,270 |
| Step 10 | $54,753 | $2,105.88 | $26.24 | +$9,514 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Pittsburgh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Pittsburgh: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Pittsburgh pay area adds a 21.03% 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 Pittsburgh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $1,620 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,106. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Pittsburgh
GS-5 in Pittsburgh questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Pittsburgh?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns $42,117 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,753. This is 21.03% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Pittsburgh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Pittsburgh in 2026, it is 21.03%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,318 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Pittsburgh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Pittsburgh earns roughly $1,620 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.