2026 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rest of U.S. earn 17.06% 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 $40,736 in Rest of U.S..
2026 GS-5 Pay in Rest of U.S.
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Rest of U.S..
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $40,736 | $1,566.77 | $19.52 | +$5,937 |
| Step 2 | $42,094 | $1,619.00 | $20.17 | +$6,135 |
| Step 3 | $43,452 | $1,671.23 | $20.82 | +$6,333 |
| Step 4 | $44,809 | $1,723.42 | $21.47 | +$6,530 |
| Step 5 | $46,167 | $1,775.65 | $22.12 | +$6,728 |
| Step 6 | $47,525 | $1,827.88 | $22.77 | +$6,926 |
| Step 7 | $48,883 | $1,880.12 | $23.42 | +$7,124 |
| Step 8 | $50,241 | $1,932.35 | $24.07 | +$7,322 |
| Step 9 | $51,599 | $1,984.58 | $24.72 | +$7,520 |
| Step 10 | $52,957 | $2,036.81 | $25.37 | +$7,718 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Rest of U.S.
Each step below already includes the 17.06% 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 | $40,736 | $1,566.77 | $19.52 | +$5,937 |
| Step 2 | $42,094 | $1,619.00 | $20.17 | +$6,135 |
| Step 3 | $43,452 | $1,671.23 | $20.82 | +$6,333 |
| Step 4 | $44,809 | $1,723.42 | $21.47 | +$6,530 |
| Step 5 | $46,167 | $1,775.65 | $22.12 | +$6,728 |
| Step 6 | $47,525 | $1,827.88 | $22.77 | +$6,926 |
| Step 7 | $48,883 | $1,880.12 | $23.42 | +$7,124 |
| Step 8 | $50,241 | $1,932.35 | $24.07 | +$7,322 |
| Step 9 | $51,599 | $1,984.58 | $24.72 | +$7,520 |
| Step 10 | $52,957 | $2,036.81 | $25.37 | +$7,718 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rest of U.S. pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Rest of U.S.: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 17.06% 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 Rest of U.S.
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,567 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,037. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Rest of U.S.
GS-5 in Rest of U.S. questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in Rest of U.S.?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $40,736 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $52,957. This is 17.06% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2026, it is 17.06%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,937 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Rest of U.S.?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,567 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.