2022 GL-5 Pay Scale
The 2022 base salary range for GL-5 runs from $38,335 at Step 1 to $47,659 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 2022 GL-5 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-5.
$38,335 GL-5 Step 1 base salary
$47,659 GL-5 Step 10 base salary
Specialist Approximate military comparison
2022 GL-5 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-5 table for 2022. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $38,335 | $1,474.42 | $18.37 | - |
| Step 2 | $39,371 | $1,514.27 | $18.86 | - |
| Step 3 | $40,407 | $1,554.12 | $19.36 | - |
| Step 4 | $41,443 | $1,593.96 | $19.86 | - |
| Step 5 | $42,479 | $1,633.81 | $20.35 | - |
| Step 6 | $43,515 | $1,673.65 | $20.85 | - |
| Step 7 | $44,551 | $1,713.50 | $21.35 | - |
| Step 8 | $45,587 | $1,753.35 | $21.84 | - |
| Step 9 | $46,623 | $1,793.19 | $22.34 | - |
| Step 10 | $47,659 | $1,833.04 | $22.84 | - |
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 2022. 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 | 42.74% | $54,719 | $68,028 |
| New York-Newark | 35.06% | $51,775 | $64,368 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 33.96% | $51,354 | $63,844 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 33.61% | $51,219 | $63,677 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 31.53% | $50,422 | $62,686 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 30.87% | $50,169 | $62,371 |
| State of Alaska | 30.42% | $49,997 | $62,157 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 30.20% | $49,912 | $62,052 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 30.09% | $49,870 | $62,000 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 29.18% | $49,521 | $61,566 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 28.28% | $49,176 | $61,137 |
| Denver-Aurora | 28.10% | $49,107 | $61,051 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 27.86% | $49,015 | $60,937 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 27.30% | $48,800 | $60,670 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 26.95% | $48,666 | $60,503 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 25.68% | $48,179 | $59,898 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 25.49% | $48,107 | $59,807 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 24.34% | $47,666 | $59,259 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 23.80% | $47,459 | $59,002 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 22.63% | $47,010 | $58,444 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 21.32% | $46,508 | $57,820 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 21.25% | $46,481 | $57,787 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 20.94% | $46,362 | $57,639 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 20.94% | $46,362 | $57,639 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 20.84% | $46,324 | $57,591 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 20.78% | $46,301 | $57,563 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 20.69% | $46,267 | $57,520 |
| Richmond | 20.64% | $46,247 | $57,496 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 20.45% | $46,175 | $57,405 |
| State of Hawaii | 20.40% | $46,155 | $57,381 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 19.93% | $45,975 | $57,157 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 19.90% | $45,964 | $57,143 |
| Laredo | 19.85% | $45,944 | $57,119 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 18.80% | $45,542 | $56,619 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 18.68% | $45,496 | $56,562 |
| Colorado Springs | 18.42% | $45,396 | $56,438 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 18.35% | $45,369 | $56,404 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 18.25% | $45,331 | $56,357 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 18.06% | $45,258 | $56,266 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 17.90% | $45,197 | $56,190 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 17.77% | $45,147 | $56,128 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 17.67% | $45,109 | $56,080 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 17.62% | $45,090 | $56,057 |
| Davenport-Moline | 17.58% | $45,074 | $56,037 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 17.39% | $45,001 | $55,947 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 17.26% | $44,952 | $55,885 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 17.18% | $44,921 | $55,847 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 17.14% | $44,906 | $55,828 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.01% | $44,856 | $55,766 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 16.93% | $44,825 | $55,728 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 16.82% | $44,783 | $55,675 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 16.81% | $44,779 | $55,670 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 16.52% | $44,668 | $55,532 |
| Rest of U.S. | 16.20% | $44,545 | $55,380 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $38,335 | $47,659 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-5
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2022
GL-3 $29,699
GL-4 $33,338
GL-5 $38,335
GL-6 $40,424
GL-7 $43,635
GL-8 $45,483
GL-9 $48,667
GL-10 $53,593
GL-5 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-5 in 2022?
The base starting salary for GL-5 in 2022 is $38,335 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.