2026 GS-5 Pay in Tucson
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Tucson-Nogales, AZ earn 19.28% 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 $41,508 in Tucson.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Tucson
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Tucson-Nogales, AZ.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,508 | $1,596.46 | $19.89 | +$6,709 |
| Step 2 | $42,892 | $1,649.69 | $20.55 | +$6,933 |
| Step 3 | $44,276 | $1,702.92 | $21.22 | +$7,157 |
| Step 4 | $45,659 | $1,756.12 | $21.88 | +$7,380 |
| Step 5 | $47,043 | $1,809.35 | $22.54 | +$7,604 |
| Step 6 | $48,426 | $1,862.54 | $23.20 | +$7,827 |
| Step 7 | $49,810 | $1,915.77 | $23.87 | +$8,051 |
| Step 8 | $51,194 | $1,969.00 | $24.53 | +$8,275 |
| Step 9 | $52,577 | $2,022.19 | $25.19 | +$8,498 |
| Step 10 | $53,961 | $2,075.42 | $25.86 | +$8,722 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Tucson
Each step below already includes the 19.28% 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 | $41,508 | $1,596.46 | $19.89 | +$6,709 |
| Step 2 | $42,892 | $1,649.69 | $20.55 | +$6,933 |
| Step 3 | $44,276 | $1,702.92 | $21.22 | +$7,157 |
| Step 4 | $45,659 | $1,756.12 | $21.88 | +$7,380 |
| Step 5 | $47,043 | $1,809.35 | $22.54 | +$7,604 |
| Step 6 | $48,426 | $1,862.54 | $23.20 | +$7,827 |
| Step 7 | $49,810 | $1,915.77 | $23.87 | +$8,051 |
| Step 8 | $51,194 | $1,969.00 | $24.53 | +$8,275 |
| Step 9 | $52,577 | $2,022.19 | $25.19 | +$8,498 |
| Step 10 | $53,961 | $2,075.42 | $25.86 | +$8,722 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Tucson pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Tucson: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Tucson pay area adds a 19.28% 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 Tucson
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,596 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,075. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Tucson
GS-5 in Tucson questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Tucson?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns $41,508 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,961. This is 19.28% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Tucson?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Tucson in 2026, it is 19.28%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,709 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Tucson?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Tucson earns roughly $1,596 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.