2026 GS-5 Pay in Virginia Beach
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC earn 18.80% 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 $41,341 in Virginia Beach.
2026 GS-5 Pay in Virginia Beach
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Virginia Beach-Norfolk, VA-NC.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $41,341 | $1,590.04 | $19.81 | +$6,542 |
| Step 2 | $42,719 | $1,643.04 | $20.47 | +$6,760 |
| Step 3 | $44,097 | $1,696.04 | $21.13 | +$6,978 |
| Step 4 | $45,475 | $1,749.04 | $21.79 | +$7,196 |
| Step 5 | $46,854 | $1,802.08 | $22.45 | +$7,415 |
| Step 6 | $48,232 | $1,855.08 | $23.11 | +$7,633 |
| Step 7 | $49,610 | $1,908.08 | $23.77 | +$7,851 |
| Step 8 | $50,988 | $1,961.08 | $24.43 | +$8,069 |
| Step 9 | $52,366 | $2,014.08 | $25.09 | +$8,287 |
| Step 10 | $53,744 | $2,067.08 | $25.75 | +$8,505 |
2026 GS-5 pay table for Virginia Beach
Each step below already includes the 18.80% 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 | $41,341 | $1,590.04 | $19.81 | +$6,542 |
| Step 2 | $42,719 | $1,643.04 | $20.47 | +$6,760 |
| Step 3 | $44,097 | $1,696.04 | $21.13 | +$6,978 |
| Step 4 | $45,475 | $1,749.04 | $21.79 | +$7,196 |
| Step 5 | $46,854 | $1,802.08 | $22.45 | +$7,415 |
| Step 6 | $48,232 | $1,855.08 | $23.11 | +$7,633 |
| Step 7 | $49,610 | $1,908.08 | $23.77 | +$7,851 |
| Step 8 | $50,988 | $1,961.08 | $24.43 | +$8,069 |
| Step 9 | $52,366 | $2,014.08 | $25.09 | +$8,287 |
| Step 10 | $53,744 | $2,067.08 | $25.75 | +$8,505 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Virginia Beach pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in Virginia Beach: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2026, the Virginia Beach pay area adds a 18.80% 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 Virginia Beach
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns roughly $1,590 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,067. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Virginia Beach
GS-5 in Virginia Beach questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Virginia Beach?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns $41,341 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $53,744. This is 18.80% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 in Virginia Beach?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Virginia Beach in 2026, it is 18.80%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,542 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in Virginia Beach?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in Virginia Beach earns roughly $1,590 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.