2017 GL-5 Pay Scale
The 2017 base salary range for GL-5 runs from $35,209 at Step 1 to $43,777 at Step 10. Use this page to see the full step table, salary range in the locality pay areas, and how GL-5 fits into a federal law enforcement career ladder.
Archive year. This is the 2017 GL-5 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-5.
$35,209 GL-5 Step 1 base salary
$43,777 GL-5 Step 10 base salary
Specialist Approximate military comparison
2017 GL-5 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-5 table for 2017. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $35,209 | $1,354.19 | $16.87 | - |
| Step 2 | $36,161 | $1,390.81 | $17.33 | - |
| Step 3 | $37,113 | $1,427.42 | $17.78 | - |
| Step 4 | $38,065 | $1,464.04 | $18.24 | - |
| Step 5 | $39,017 | $1,500.65 | $18.70 | - |
| Step 6 | $39,969 | $1,537.27 | $19.15 | - |
| Step 7 | $40,921 | $1,573.88 | $19.61 | - |
| Step 8 | $41,873 | $1,610.50 | $20.06 | - |
| Step 9 | $42,825 | $1,647.12 | $20.52 | - |
| Step 10 | $43,777 | $1,683.73 | $20.98 | - |
What kind of role is GL-5?
Typical role. Qualified law enforcement officers, investigators and agents handling assigned duties with limited supervision.
Typical qualification path. One year of specialized experience at the GL-4 level.
Career progression. Career ladders often move to GL-7 after one year of creditable experience.
Step progression for GL-5
GL-5 salary in every locality pay area
The table below compares GL-5 Step 1 and Step 10 across all published locality pay areas for 2017. Use it to see how much location changes federal law enforcement salary.
| Locality pay area | Adjustment | GL-5 Step 1 | GL-5 Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | 38.17% | $48,648 | $60,487 |
| New York-Newark | 31.22% | $46,201 | $57,444 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 30.97% | $46,113 | $57,335 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 29.65% | $45,648 | $56,757 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 27.57% | $44,916 | $55,846 |
| State of Alaska | 27.13% | $44,761 | $55,654 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 27.10% | $44,751 | $55,641 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 26.98% | $44,708 | $55,588 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 26.85% | $44,663 | $55,531 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 26.73% | $44,620 | $55,479 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 25.68% | $44,251 | $55,019 |
| Denver-Aurora | 24.65% | $43,888 | $54,568 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 24.24% | $43,744 | $54,389 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 24.14% | $43,708 | $54,345 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 23.87% | $43,613 | $54,227 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 22.72% | $43,208 | $53,723 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 22.61% | $43,170 | $53,675 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 22.13% | $43,001 | $53,465 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 21.95% | $42,937 | $53,386 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 20.70% | $42,497 | $52,839 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 19.71% | $42,149 | $52,405 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 19.61% | $42,113 | $52,362 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 19.52% | $42,082 | $52,322 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 19.02% | $41,906 | $52,103 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 18.66% | $41,779 | $51,946 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 18.57% | $41,747 | $51,906 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 18.49% | $41,719 | $51,871 |
| Richmond | 18.19% | $41,614 | $51,740 |
| State of Hawaii | 17.92% | $41,518 | $51,622 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 17.86% | $41,497 | $51,596 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 17.82% | $41,483 | $51,578 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 17.59% | $41,402 | $51,477 |
| Laredo | 16.68% | $41,082 | $51,079 |
| Colorado Springs | 15.99% | $40,839 | $50,777 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 15.97% | $40,832 | $50,768 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 15.93% | $40,818 | $50,751 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 15.85% | $40,790 | $50,716 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 15.85% | $40,790 | $50,716 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 15.83% | $40,783 | $50,707 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 15.66% | $40,723 | $50,632 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 15.65% | $40,719 | $50,628 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 15.63% | $40,712 | $50,619 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 15.59% | $40,698 | $50,602 |
| Davenport-Moline | 15.56% | $40,688 | $50,589 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 15.48% | $40,659 | $50,554 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 15.36% | $40,617 | $50,501 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.06% | $40,511 | $50,370 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $35,209 | $43,777 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-5
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2017
GL-3 $27,275
GL-4 $30,614
GL-5 $35,209
GL-6 $37,124
GL-7 $40,075
GL-8 $41,769
GL-9 $44,693
GL-10 $49,218
GL-5 questions
-
What is the starting salary for GL-5 in 2017?
The base starting salary for GL-5 in 2017 is $35,209 at Step 1 before locality pay. In the highest-paying locality area, GL-5 starts higher once the duty-station adjustment is applied. -
How long does it take to move through GL-5 steps?
Within-grade step increases follow the same OPM timing used for other statutory pay systems: one year between Steps 1 to 4, two years between Steps 4 to 7, and three years between Steps 7 to 10, assuming acceptable performance. -
Does GL-5 include LEAP or overtime?
No. This table shows basic pay only. It does not include law enforcement availability pay, overtime, premium pay, retention incentives, or other agency-specific compensation.