GS-5 Pay in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
$46,610 – $60,593 per year • 33.94% locality adjustment
GS-5 Salary Summary — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Complete GS-5 Pay Table — Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA (2026)
| Step | Annual | Monthly | Biweekly | Hourly | Base Pay | Locality Add |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $46,610 | $3,884 | $1,793 | $22.33 | $34,799 | +$11,811 |
| Step 2 | $48,163 | $4,014 | $1,852 | $23.08 | $35,959 | +$12,204 |
| Step 3 | $49,717 | $4,143 | $1,912 | $23.82 | $37,119 | +$12,598 |
| Step 4 | $51,271 | $4,273 | $1,972 | $24.57 | $38,279 | +$12,992 |
| Step 5 | $52,825 | $4,402 | $2,032 | $25.31 | $39,439 | +$13,386 |
| Step 6 | $54,378 | $4,532 | $2,091 | $26.06 | $40,599 | +$13,779 |
| Step 7 | $55,932 | $4,661 | $2,151 | $26.80 | $41,759 | +$14,173 |
| Step 8 | $57,486 | $4,791 | $2,211 | $27.54 | $42,919 | +$14,567 |
| Step 9 | $59,039 | $4,920 | $2,271 | $28.29 | $44,079 | +$14,960 |
| Step 10 | $60,593 | $5,049 | $2,331 | $29.03 | $45,239 | +$15,354 |
Compare Nearby Grades in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
How does GS-5 Step 5 compare to adjacent grades in this locality?
Promotion from GS-4 to GS-5 at Step 5 in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA is a raise of $5,610 per year.
GS-5 Federal Jobs in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA
Federal employees at GS-5 in the Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area earn between $46,610 and $60,593 annually in 2026. This includes a 33.94% locality pay adjustment on top of the GS-5 base pay of $34,799 to $45,239.
The Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA locality area covers District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania. At Step 5, a GS-5 employee here earns $6,658 more per year than the same grade and step under the "Rest of United States" rate (17.06%).
As one of the higher-paying locality areas, Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA compensates for the higher cost of living in the region. Federal employees considering a move should compare not just the salary difference but also housing costs, state income taxes, and commuting expenses.
The biweekly pay for a GS-5 Step 1 in this area is $1,793, or approximately $22.33 per hour based on the standard 2,087-hour work year. Step increases are automatic with acceptable performance — it takes 18 years to progress from Step 1 to Step 10.
Looking for GS-5 jobs?
Browse 12,548+ active federal job openings on FreeJobAlert.
Browse Federal Jobs →