2026 GS-5 Pay in San Diego
GS-5 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.72% 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 $46,533 in San Diego.
2026 GS-5 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $46,533 | $1,789.73 | $22.30 | +$11,734 |
| Step 2 | $48,084 | $1,849.38 | $23.04 | +$12,125 |
| Step 3 | $49,636 | $1,909.08 | $23.78 | +$12,517 |
| Step 4 | $51,187 | $1,968.73 | $24.53 | +$12,908 |
| Step 5 | $52,738 | $2,028.38 | $25.27 | +$13,299 |
| Step 6 | $54,289 | $2,088.04 | $26.01 | +$13,690 |
| Step 7 | $55,840 | $2,147.69 | $26.76 | +$14,081 |
| Step 8 | $57,391 | $2,207.35 | $27.50 | +$14,472 |
| Step 9 | $58,942 | $2,267.00 | $28.24 | +$14,863 |
| Step 10 | $60,494 | $2,326.69 | $28.99 | +$15,255 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.72% 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 | $46,533 | $1,789.73 | $22.30 | +$11,734 |
| Step 2 | $48,084 | $1,849.38 | $23.04 | +$12,125 |
| Step 3 | $49,636 | $1,909.08 | $23.78 | +$12,517 |
| Step 4 | $51,187 | $1,968.73 | $24.53 | +$12,908 |
| Step 5 | $52,738 | $2,028.38 | $25.27 | +$13,299 |
| Step 6 | $54,289 | $2,088.04 | $26.01 | +$13,690 |
| Step 7 | $55,840 | $2,147.69 | $26.76 | +$14,081 |
| Step 8 | $57,391 | $2,207.35 | $27.50 | +$14,472 |
| Step 9 | $58,942 | $2,267.00 | $28.24 | +$14,863 |
| Step 10 | $60,494 | $2,326.69 | $28.99 | +$15,255 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in San Diego: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.72% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,790 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,327. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-5 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in San Diego?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $46,533 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $60,494. This is 33.72% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2026, it is 33.72%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,734 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $1,790 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.