2026 GS-5 Pay in San Francisco
GS-5 employees with a duty station in San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA earn 46.34% 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 $50,925 in San Francisco.
2026 GS-5 Pay in San Francisco
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $50,925 | $1,958.65 | $24.40 | +$16,126 |
| Step 2 | $52,622 | $2,023.92 | $25.21 | +$16,663 |
| Step 3 | $54,320 | $2,089.23 | $26.03 | +$17,201 |
| Step 4 | $56,017 | $2,154.50 | $26.84 | +$17,738 |
| Step 5 | $57,715 | $2,219.81 | $27.65 | +$18,276 |
| Step 6 | $59,413 | $2,285.12 | $28.47 | +$18,814 |
| Step 7 | $61,110 | $2,350.38 | $29.28 | +$19,351 |
| Step 8 | $62,808 | $2,415.69 | $30.09 | +$19,889 |
| Step 9 | $64,505 | $2,480.96 | $30.91 | +$20,426 |
| Step 10 | $66,203 | $2,546.27 | $31.72 | +$20,964 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for San Francisco
Each step below already includes the 46.34% 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 | $50,925 | $1,958.65 | $24.40 | +$16,126 |
| Step 2 | $52,622 | $2,023.92 | $25.21 | +$16,663 |
| Step 3 | $54,320 | $2,089.23 | $26.03 | +$17,201 |
| Step 4 | $56,017 | $2,154.50 | $26.84 | +$17,738 |
| Step 5 | $57,715 | $2,219.81 | $27.65 | +$18,276 |
| Step 6 | $59,413 | $2,285.12 | $28.47 | +$18,814 |
| Step 7 | $61,110 | $2,350.38 | $29.28 | +$19,351 |
| Step 8 | $62,808 | $2,415.69 | $30.09 | +$19,889 |
| Step 9 | $64,505 | $2,480.96 | $30.91 | +$20,426 |
| Step 10 | $66,203 | $2,546.27 | $31.72 | +$20,964 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Francisco pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in San Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 46.34% 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 Francisco
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,959 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,546. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in San Francisco
GS-5 in San Francisco questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in San Francisco?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $50,925 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,203. This is 46.34% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in San Francisco?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2026, it is 46.34%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $16,126 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in San Francisco?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $1,959 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.