2021 GL-5 Pay Scale
The 2021 base salary range for GL-5 runs from $37,512 at Step 1 to $46,638 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 2021 GL-5 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-5.
$37,512 GL-5 Step 1 base salary
$46,638 GL-5 Step 10 base salary
Specialist Approximate military comparison
2021 GL-5 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-5 table for 2021. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $37,512 | $1,442.77 | $17.97 | - |
| Step 2 | $38,526 | $1,481.77 | $18.46 | - |
| Step 3 | $39,540 | $1,520.77 | $18.95 | - |
| Step 4 | $40,554 | $1,559.77 | $19.43 | - |
| Step 5 | $41,568 | $1,598.77 | $19.92 | - |
| Step 6 | $42,582 | $1,637.77 | $20.40 | - |
| Step 7 | $43,596 | $1,676.77 | $20.89 | - |
| Step 8 | $44,610 | $1,715.77 | $21.38 | - |
| Step 9 | $45,624 | $1,754.77 | $21.86 | - |
| Step 10 | $46,638 | $1,793.77 | $22.35 | - |
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 2021. 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 | 41.44% | $53,057 | $65,965 |
| New York-Newark | 33.98% | $50,259 | $62,486 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.32% | $50,011 | $62,178 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 32.41% | $49,670 | $61,753 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 30.48% | $48,946 | $60,853 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 29.77% | $48,679 | $60,522 |
| State of Alaska | 29.67% | $48,642 | $60,475 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 29.49% | $48,574 | $60,392 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 29.11% | $48,432 | $60,214 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 28.59% | $48,237 | $59,972 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.32% | $47,760 | $59,380 |
| Denver-Aurora | 27.13% | $47,689 | $59,291 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 27.02% | $47,648 | $59,240 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 26.37% | $47,404 | $58,936 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.04% | $47,280 | $58,783 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 24.98% | $46,882 | $58,288 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 24.66% | $46,762 | $58,139 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 23.74% | $46,417 | $57,710 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.51% | $46,331 | $57,603 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.16% | $45,825 | $56,973 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 20.96% | $45,375 | $56,413 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 20.82% | $45,322 | $56,348 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.55% | $45,221 | $56,222 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.49% | $45,198 | $56,194 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.20% | $45,089 | $56,059 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.12% | $45,059 | $56,022 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.02% | $45,022 | $55,975 |
| Richmond | 19.95% | $44,996 | $55,942 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 19.85% | $44,958 | $55,896 |
| State of Hawaii | 19.56% | $44,849 | $55,760 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.40% | $44,789 | $55,686 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.18% | $44,707 | $55,583 |
| Laredo | 18.88% | $44,594 | $55,443 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.17% | $44,328 | $55,112 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 17.88% | $44,219 | $54,977 |
| Colorado Springs | 17.78% | $44,182 | $54,930 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 17.68% | $44,144 | $54,884 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 17.65% | $44,133 | $54,870 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 17.44% | $44,054 | $54,772 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.20% | $43,964 | $54,660 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.19% | $43,960 | $54,655 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.13% | $43,938 | $54,627 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.04% | $43,904 | $54,585 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 16.92% | $43,859 | $54,529 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 16.89% | $43,848 | $54,515 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 16.77% | $43,803 | $54,459 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 16.73% | $43,788 | $54,441 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 16.68% | $43,769 | $54,417 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.56% | $43,724 | $54,361 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 16.51% | $43,705 | $54,338 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.33% | $43,638 | $54,254 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.26% | $43,611 | $54,221 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 15.95% | $43,495 | $54,077 |
| Rest of U.S. | 15.95% | $43,495 | $54,077 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $37,512 | $46,638 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-5
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2021
GL-3 $29,058
GL-4 $32,620
GL-5 $37,512
GL-6 $39,553
GL-7 $42,698
GL-8 $44,505
GL-9 $47,619
GL-10 $52,440
GL-5 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-5 in 2021?
The base starting salary for GL-5 in 2021 is $37,512 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.