GS-5 pay scale 2026
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
GS-5 base pay in 2026 runs from $34,799 (step 1) to $45,239 (step 10), before locality pay. The 2026 increase was 1%.
| Locality | Step 1 | Step 4 | Step 7 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rest of U.S. | $40,736 | $44,809 | $48,883 | $52,957 |
| Atlanta–Athens-Clarke County–Sandy Springs | $43,078 | $47,386 | $51,693 | $56,001 |
| Boston-Worcester-Providence | $46,137 | $50,750 | $55,364 | $59,978 |
| Chicago-Naperville | $45,538 | $50,092 | $54,646 | $59,200 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth | $44,285 | $48,714 | $53,143 | $57,571 |
| Denver-Aurora | $45,420 | $49,962 | $54,504 | $59,046 |
| Houston-The Woodlands | $46,979 | $51,677 | $56,375 | $61,073 |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach | $47,490 | $52,239 | $56,989 | $61,738 |
| New York-Newark | $48,005 | $52,806 | $57,607 | $62,407 |
| San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad | $46,533 | $51,187 | $55,840 | $60,494 |
| San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland | $50,925 | $56,017 | $61,110 | $66,203 |
| Seattle-Tacoma | $45,785 | $50,364 | $54,942 | $59,521 |
| Washington, DC | $46,610 | $51,271 | $55,932 | $60,593 |
- Biweekly (26 pay periods)
- $1,792.69
- Monthly
- $3,884.17
- Hourly (2,087 hours)
- $22.33
- Overtime hourly (1.5×, capped for higher grades)
- $33.50
- Est. biweekly take-home (single, no TSP/FEHB)
- $1,452.51
2026 OPM tables: base schedule +1.0%, locality percentages unchanged from 2025. Take-home excludes FERS (0.8%–4.4%), TSP and FEHB deductions.
Other grades
GS-1 · GS-2 · GS-3 · GS-4 · GS-6 · GS-7 · GS-8 · GS-9 · GS-10 · GS-11 · GS-12 · GS-13 · GS-14 · GS-15
Frequently asked questions
How much does a GS-5 make in 2026?
$34,799 to $45,239 on the base schedule, plus locality pay from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to over 45% in San Jose–San Francisco.
How long between GS-5 steps?
Steps 1–4: one year each; steps 4–7: two years each; steps 7–10: three years each, assuming acceptable performance.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.