GS-5 Take Home Pay 2026: What You Actually Bring Home
See what a GS-5 federal employee actually takes home after FERS pension, TSP, FEHB health insurance, Social Security, Medicare, and federal & state income taxes. All 10 steps, top localities, and step increase timeline.
GS-5 Pay Table 2026 — All 10 Steps
| Step | Base Pay | RUS Salary | Gross/PP | Est. Net/PP | Est. Net/Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $34,799 | $40,736 | $1,566.77 | $1,073.73 | $27,917 |
| 2 | $35,959 | $42,094 | $1,619.00 | $1,108.54 | $28,822 |
| 3 | $37,119 | $43,452 | $1,671.23 | $1,143.35 | $29,727 |
| 4 | $38,279 | $44,809 | $1,723.42 | $1,178.14 | $30,632 |
| 5 | $39,439 | $46,167 | $1,775.65 | $1,212.94 | $31,536 |
| 6 | $40,599 | $47,525 | $1,827.88 | $1,247.75 | $32,442 |
| 7 | $41,759 | $48,883 | $1,880.12 | $1,282.55 | $33,346 |
| 8 | $42,919 | $50,241 | $1,932.35 | $1,317.36 | $34,251 |
| 9 | $44,079 | $51,599 | $1,984.58 | $1,352.17 | $35,156 |
| 10 | $45,239 | $52,957 | $2,036.81 | $1,386.98 | $36,061 |
Estimates assume: Single filer, FERS-FRAE (4.4%), 5% Traditional TSP, average FEHB Self Only ($126.29/pp), DC state tax, no FEGLI. Your actual take-home will differ.
RUS = Rest of U.S. locality (17.06%). PP = biweekly pay period. Base pay from OPM 2026 GS Pay Tables. Locality rates per 5 U.S.C. §5304.
What Affects Your GS-5 Take Home Pay
Your GS-5 gross salary is just the starting point. Several mandatory and optional deductions determine what actually hits your bank account every two weeks.
FERS Pension: Federal employees contribute 0.8%, 3.1%, or 4.4% of gross pay depending on hire date. Employees hired on or after January 1, 2014 pay 4.4% under FERS-FRAE (5 U.S.C. §8422). This reduces your federal taxable income but does not reduce FICA wages.
TSP (Thrift Savings Plan): Your contribution percentage directly affects take-home pay. Traditional TSP reduces taxable income now; Roth TSP does not. The government matches up to 5% of basic pay through an automatic 1% contribution plus a tiered match (5 U.S.C. §8432(c)). Contributing at least 5% is widely considered essential to maximize this benefit.
FEHB Health Insurance: Federal employees pay their share of health insurance premiums pre-tax under Premium Conversion (26 U.S.C. §125). FEHB premiums reduce both federal taxable income AND FICA wages — this is different from FERS and TSP, which only reduce federal taxable income.
Social Security & Medicare: 6.2% Social Security tax applies to wages up to $184,500 (2026 wage base), and 1.45% Medicare tax applies to all wages with no cap. An additional 0.9% Medicare tax applies above $200,000 for single filers (26 U.S.C. §3101).
Federal & State Income Tax: Federal tax uses the post-OBBBA brackets (P.L. 119-21) with 2026 inflation adjustments from Rev. Proc. 2025-32. State taxes vary significantly — nine states have no income tax, while others like California and New York have rates above 10%.
Locality Pay: Your locality adjustment is the single biggest factor in gross salary differences. The 58 GS locality pay areas range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Francisco). Higher locality pay means higher gross — but also higher taxes and usually higher cost of living.
GS-5 Pay by Locality — Top 5 Areas
| Locality Area | Adjustment | Step 1 | Step 5 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | 33.94% | $46,610 | $52,825 | $60,593 |
| San Francisco, CA | 46.34% | $50,925 | $57,715 | $66,203 |
| New York, NY | 37.95% | $48,005 | $54,406 | $62,407 |
| Los Angeles, CA | 36.47% | $47,490 | $53,822 | $61,738 |
| Houston, TX | 35.0% | $46,979 | $53,243 | $61,073 |
| Rest of U.S. | 17.06% | $40,736 | $46,167 | $52,957 |
All values are annual gross salary. Source: OPM 2026 Locality Pay Tables. See all 58 locality areas in the full calculator.
GS-5 Step Increase Timeline
Within-grade increases (WGIs) are periodic pay raises within your GS grade, governed by 5 U.S.C. §5335. You must have acceptable performance to receive each increase. The waiting periods get longer at higher steps.
| Step Increase | Wait Period | Pay Raise | New Salary (RUS) | Time from Step 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 → 2 | 1 year | +$1,358 | $42,094 | 1 years |
| Step 2 → 3 | 1 year | +$1,358 | $43,452 | 2 years |
| Step 3 → 4 | 1 year | +$1,357 | $44,809 | 3 years |
| Step 4 → 5 | 2 years | +$1,358 | $46,167 | 5 years |
| Step 5 → 6 | 2 years | +$1,358 | $47,525 | 7 years |
| Step 6 → 7 | 2 years | +$1,358 | $48,883 | 9 years |
| Step 7 → 8 | 3 years | +$1,358 | $50,241 | 12 years |
| Step 8 → 9 | 3 years | +$1,358 | $51,599 | 15 years |
| Step 9 → 10 | 3 years | +$1,358 | $52,957 | 18 years |
Salary values shown for Rest of U.S. locality (17.06%). Total time from Step 1 to Step 10: 18 years. WGI rules per 5 U.S.C. §5335 and 5 CFR Part 531.
Frequently Asked Questions — GS-5 Pay
What is the GS-5 salary in 2026?
A GS-5 Step 1 employee earns $40,736 per year under the Rest of U.S. locality pay area (17.06% locality adjustment). At Step 10, a GS-5 earns $52,957 per year. Salaries vary by locality — employees in higher-cost areas like Washington DC, San Francisco, and New York earn more.
What is the actual take-home pay for a GS-5?
A GS-5 Step 1 in the Rest of U.S. locality area takes home approximately $1,074 per biweekly pay period after FERS pension (4.4% for FERS-FRAE), 5% Traditional TSP, FEHB health insurance, Social Security (6.2%), Medicare (1.45%), and federal income tax. Actual take-home varies based on your specific benefits elections, state taxes, and filing status. Use our calculator for a personalized estimate.
How long does it take to go from GS-5 Step 1 to Step 10?
It takes 18 years of acceptable performance to advance from Step 1 to Step 10 within GS-5. Steps 1 through 4 increase every 1 year (52 weeks), Steps 4 through 7 increase every 2 years (104 weeks), and Steps 7 through 10 increase every 3 years (156 weeks). These within-grade increases (WGIs) are governed by 5 U.S.C. §5335.
What GS grade comes after GS-5?
Promotions from GS-5 depend on your position's career ladder. Common pathways include the GS-5/7/9, GS-7/9/11, or GS-5/7/9/11/12 ladders. Competitive promotions typically follow two-grade intervals for professional positions (e.g., GS-5 to GS-7) and one-grade intervals for technical positions. Check your position description for your specific career ladder.
Does GS-5 pay vary by location?
Yes. GS locality pay adjustments range from 17.06% (Rest of U.S.) to 46.34% (San Francisco). A GS-5 Step 1 earns $40,736 in most areas but significantly more in high-cost areas. Washington DC adds 33.94%, New York adds 37.95%, and Los Angeles adds 36.47%. There are 58 locality pay areas plus the base rate.