2026 GS-5 Pay in Portland
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA earn 26.13% 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 $43,892 in Portland.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Portland
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Portland-Vancouver-Salem, OR-WA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $43,892 | $1,688.15 | $21.03 | +$9,093 |
| Step 2 | $45,355 | $1,744.42 | $21.73 | +$9,396 |
| Step 3 | $46,818 | $1,800.69 | $22.43 | +$9,699 |
| Step 4 | $48,281 | $1,856.96 | $23.13 | +$10,002 |
| Step 5 | $49,744 | $1,913.23 | $23.84 | +$10,305 |
| Step 6 | $51,208 | $1,969.54 | $24.54 | +$10,609 |
| Step 7 | $52,671 | $2,025.81 | $25.24 | +$10,912 |
| Step 8 | $54,134 | $2,082.08 | $25.94 | +$11,215 |
| Step 9 | $55,597 | $2,138.35 | $26.64 | +$11,518 |
| Step 10 | $57,060 | $2,194.62 | $27.34 | +$11,821 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Portland
Each step below already includes the 26.13% 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 | $43,892 | $1,688.15 | $21.03 | +$9,093 |
| Step 2 | $45,355 | $1,744.42 | $21.73 | +$9,396 |
| Step 3 | $46,818 | $1,800.69 | $22.43 | +$9,699 |
| Step 4 | $48,281 | $1,856.96 | $23.13 | +$10,002 |
| Step 5 | $49,744 | $1,913.23 | $23.84 | +$10,305 |
| Step 6 | $51,208 | $1,969.54 | $24.54 | +$10,609 |
| Step 7 | $52,671 | $2,025.81 | $25.24 | +$10,912 |
| Step 8 | $54,134 | $2,082.08 | $25.94 | +$11,215 |
| Step 9 | $55,597 | $2,138.35 | $26.64 | +$11,518 |
| Step 10 | $57,060 | $2,194.62 | $27.34 | +$11,821 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Portland pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Portland: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Portland pay area adds a 26.13% 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 Portland
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $1,688 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,195. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Portland
GS-5 in Portland questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Portland?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Portland earns $43,892 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $57,060. This is 26.13% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Portland?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Portland in 2026, it is 26.13%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,093 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Portland?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Portland earns roughly $1,688 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.