2025 GL-5 Pay Scale
The 2025 base salary range for GL-5 runs from $42,490 at Step 1 to $52,822 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 2025 GL-5 pay scale.
Current year: 2026 GL-5.
$42,490 GL-5 Step 1 base salary
$52,822 GL-5 Step 10 base salary
Specialist Approximate military comparison
2025 GL-5 step table
This is the nationwide base GL-5 table for 2025. It shows annual salary, biweekly pay, and hourly rate for each step.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $42,490 | $1,634.23 | $20.36 | - |
| Step 2 | $43,638 | $1,678.38 | $20.91 | - |
| Step 3 | $44,786 | $1,722.54 | $21.46 | - |
| Step 4 | $45,934 | $1,766.69 | $22.01 | - |
| Step 5 | $47,082 | $1,810.85 | $22.56 | - |
| Step 6 | $48,230 | $1,855.00 | $23.11 | - |
| Step 7 | $49,378 | $1,899.15 | $23.66 | - |
| Step 8 | $50,526 | $1,943.31 | $24.21 | - |
| Step 9 | $51,674 | $1,987.46 | $24.76 | - |
| Step 10 | $52,822 | $2,031.62 | $25.31 | - |
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 2025. 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 | 46.34% | $62,180 | $77,300 |
| New York-Newark | 37.95% | $58,615 | $72,868 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | 36.47% | $57,986 | $72,086 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | 35.00% | $57,362 | $71,310 |
| Washington-Baltimore-Arlington | 33.94% | $56,911 | $70,750 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | 33.72% | $56,818 | $70,634 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | 32.58% | $56,333 | $70,031 |
| State of Alaska | 32.36% | $56,240 | $69,915 |
| Hartford-East Hartford | 32.08% | $56,121 | $69,767 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | 31.57% | $55,904 | $69,498 |
| Chicago-Naperville | 30.86% | $55,602 | $69,123 |
| Denver-Aurora | 30.52% | $55,458 | $68,943 |
| Sacramento-Roseville | 29.76% | $55,135 | $68,542 |
| Detroit-Warren-Ann Arbor | 29.12% | $54,863 | $68,204 |
| Philadelphia-Reading-Camden | 28.99% | $54,808 | $68,135 |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul | 27.62% | $54,226 | $67,411 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | 27.26% | $54,073 | $67,221 |
| Portland-Vancouver-Salem | 26.13% | $53,593 | $66,624 |
| Miami-Port St. Lucie-Fort Lauderdale | 24.67% | $52,972 | $65,853 |
| Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs | 23.79% | $52,598 | $65,388 |
| Phoenix-Mesa | 22.45% | $52,029 | $64,681 |
| Milwaukee-Racine-Waukesha | 22.42% | $52,016 | $64,665 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Olean | 22.41% | $52,012 | $64,659 |
| Richmond | 22.28% | $51,957 | $64,591 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary | 22.24% | $51,940 | $64,570 |
| Cleveland-Akron-Canton | 22.23% | $51,936 | $64,564 |
| State of Hawaii | 22.21% | $51,927 | $64,554 |
| Columbus-Marion-Zanesville | 22.15% | $51,902 | $64,522 |
| Cincinnati-Wilmington-Maysville | 21.93% | $51,808 | $64,406 |
| Huntsville-Decatur | 21.91% | $51,800 | $64,395 |
| Laredo | 21.59% | $51,664 | $64,226 |
| Dayton-Springfield-Kettering | 21.42% | $51,591 | $64,136 |
| Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton | 21.03% | $51,426 | $63,930 |
| Albany-Schenectady | 20.77% | $51,315 | $63,793 |
| Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown | 20.35% | $51,137 | $63,571 |
| Colorado Springs | 20.15% | $51,052 | $63,466 |
| St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington | 20.03% | $51,001 | $63,402 |
| Charlotte-Concord | 19.67% | $50,848 | $63,212 |
| Las Vegas-Henderson | 19.57% | $50,805 | $63,159 |
| Burlington-South Burlington-Barre | 19.45% | $50,754 | $63,096 |
| Harrisburg-Lebanon | 19.43% | $50,746 | $63,085 |
| Tucson-Nogales | 19.28% | $50,682 | $63,006 |
| Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City | 18.97% | $50,550 | $62,842 |
| Davenport-Moline | 18.93% | $50,533 | $62,821 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk | 18.80% | $50,478 | $62,753 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels-Pearsall | 18.78% | $50,470 | $62,742 |
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe-Las Vegas | 18.33% | $50,278 | $62,504 |
| Birmingham-Hoover-Talladega | 18.24% | $50,240 | $62,457 |
| Omaha-Council Bluffs-Fremont | 18.23% | $50,236 | $62,451 |
| Indianapolis-Carmel-Muncie | 18.15% | $50,202 | $62,409 |
| Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines | 18.01% | $50,142 | $62,335 |
| Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville | 17.93% | $50,108 | $62,293 |
| Rochester-Batavia-Seneca Falls | 17.88% | $50,087 | $62,267 |
| Spokane-Spokane Valley-Coeur d'Alene | 17.67% | $49,998 | $62,156 |
| Fresno-Madera-Hanford | 17.65% | $49,989 | $62,145 |
| Corpus Christi-Kingsville-Alice | 17.63% | $49,981 | $62,135 |
| Reno-Fernley | 17.52% | $49,934 | $62,076 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $49,739 | $61,833 |
| For Areas Outside the United States | 0.00% | $42,490 | $52,822 |
Best and lowest locality outcomes for GL-5
Highest-paying areas
Lowest-paying areas
Browse other GL grades in 2025
GL-3 $32,918
GL-4 $36,957
GL-5 $42,490
GL-6 $44,807
GL-7 $48,371
GL-8 $50,417
GL-9 $53,945
GL-10 $59,405
GL-5 questions
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What is the starting salary for GL-5 in 2025?
The base starting salary for GL-5 in 2025 is $42,490 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.