2026 GS-5 Pay in Rochester
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY earn 17.88% 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 $41,021 in Rochester.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Rochester
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls, NY.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,021 | $1,577.73 | $19.66 | +$6,222 |
| Step 2 | $42,388 | $1,630.31 | $20.31 | +$6,429 |
| Step 3 | $43,756 | $1,682.92 | $20.97 | +$6,637 |
| Step 4 | $45,123 | $1,735.50 | $21.62 | +$6,844 |
| Step 5 | $46,491 | $1,788.12 | $22.28 | +$7,052 |
| Step 6 | $47,858 | $1,840.69 | $22.93 | +$7,259 |
| Step 7 | $49,226 | $1,893.31 | $23.59 | +$7,467 |
| Step 8 | $50,593 | $1,945.88 | $24.24 | +$7,674 |
| Step 9 | $51,960 | $1,998.46 | $24.90 | +$7,881 |
| Step 10 | $53,328 | $2,051.08 | $25.55 | +$8,089 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Rochester
Each step below already includes the 17.88% 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 | $41,021 | $1,577.73 | $19.66 | +$6,222 |
| Step 2 | $42,388 | $1,630.31 | $20.31 | +$6,429 |
| Step 3 | $43,756 | $1,682.92 | $20.97 | +$6,637 |
| Step 4 | $45,123 | $1,735.50 | $21.62 | +$6,844 |
| Step 5 | $46,491 | $1,788.12 | $22.28 | +$7,052 |
| Step 6 | $47,858 | $1,840.69 | $22.93 | +$7,259 |
| Step 7 | $49,226 | $1,893.31 | $23.59 | +$7,467 |
| Step 8 | $50,593 | $1,945.88 | $24.24 | +$7,674 |
| Step 9 | $51,960 | $1,998.46 | $24.90 | +$7,881 |
| Step 10 | $53,328 | $2,051.08 | $25.55 | +$8,089 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Rochester pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Rochester: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Rochester pay area adds a 17.88% 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 Rochester
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rochester earns roughly $1,578 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,051. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Rochester
GS-5 in Rochester questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Rochester?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rochester earns $41,021 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,328. This is 17.88% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Rochester?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rochester in 2026, it is 17.88%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,222 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Rochester?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Rochester earns roughly $1,578 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.