2026 GS-5 Pay in Raleigh
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC earn 22.24% 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 $42,538 in Raleigh.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Raleigh
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,538 | $1,636.08 | $20.38 | +$7,739 |
| Step 2 | $43,956 | $1,690.62 | $21.06 | +$7,997 |
| Step 3 | $45,374 | $1,745.15 | $21.74 | +$8,255 |
| Step 4 | $46,792 | $1,799.69 | $22.42 | +$8,513 |
| Step 5 | $48,210 | $1,854.23 | $23.10 | +$8,771 |
| Step 6 | $49,628 | $1,908.77 | $23.78 | +$9,029 |
| Step 7 | $51,046 | $1,963.31 | $24.46 | +$9,287 |
| Step 8 | $52,464 | $2,017.85 | $25.14 | +$9,545 |
| Step 9 | $53,882 | $2,072.38 | $25.82 | +$9,803 |
| Step 10 | $55,300 | $2,126.92 | $26.50 | +$10,061 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Raleigh
Each step below already includes the 22.24% 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 | $42,538 | $1,636.08 | $20.38 | +$7,739 |
| Step 2 | $43,956 | $1,690.62 | $21.06 | +$7,997 |
| Step 3 | $45,374 | $1,745.15 | $21.74 | +$8,255 |
| Step 4 | $46,792 | $1,799.69 | $22.42 | +$8,513 |
| Step 5 | $48,210 | $1,854.23 | $23.10 | +$8,771 |
| Step 6 | $49,628 | $1,908.77 | $23.78 | +$9,029 |
| Step 7 | $51,046 | $1,963.31 | $24.46 | +$9,287 |
| Step 8 | $52,464 | $2,017.85 | $25.14 | +$9,545 |
| Step 9 | $53,882 | $2,072.38 | $25.82 | +$9,803 |
| Step 10 | $55,300 | $2,126.92 | $26.50 | +$10,061 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Raleigh pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Raleigh: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Raleigh pay area adds a 22.24% 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 Raleigh
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,636 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,127. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Raleigh
GS-5 in Raleigh questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Raleigh?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns $42,538 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,300. This is 22.24% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Raleigh?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Raleigh in 2026, it is 22.24%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,739 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Raleigh?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Raleigh earns roughly $1,636 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.