2020 GS-15 Pay in ATLANTA
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 22.16% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $109,366 on the base table to $133,602 in ATLANTA.
2020 GS-15 Pay in ATLANTA
Locality-adjusted GS-15 rates for Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $133,602 | $5,138.54 | $64.02 | +$24,236 |
| Step 2 | $138,055 | $5,309.81 | $66.15 | +$25,043 |
| Step 3 | $142,509 | $5,481.12 | $68.28 | +$25,851 |
| Step 4 | $146,963 | $5,652.42 | $70.42 | +$26,659 |
| Step 5 | $151,417 | $5,823.73 | $72.55 | +$27,467 |
| Step 6 | $155,871 | $5,995.04 | $74.69 | +$28,275 |
| Step 7 | $160,325 | $6,166.35 | $76.82 | +$29,083 |
| Step 8 | $164,779 | $6,337.65 | $78.95 | +$29,891 |
| Step 9 | $169,233 | $6,508.96 | $81.09 | +$30,699 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
2020 GS-15 pay table for ATLANTA
Each step below already includes the 22.16% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-15 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $133,602 | $5,138.54 | $64.02 | +$24,236 |
| Step 2 | $138,055 | $5,309.81 | $66.15 | +$25,043 |
| Step 3 | $142,509 | $5,481.12 | $68.28 | +$25,851 |
| Step 4 | $146,963 | $5,652.42 | $70.42 | +$26,659 |
| Step 5 | $151,417 | $5,823.73 | $72.55 | +$27,467 |
| Step 6 | $155,871 | $5,995.04 | $74.69 | +$28,275 |
| Step 7 | $160,325 | $6,166.35 | $76.82 | +$29,083 |
| Step 8 | $164,779 | $6,337.65 | $78.95 | +$29,891 |
| Step 9 | $169,233 | $6,508.96 | $81.09 | +$30,699 |
| Step 10 | $170,800 | $6,569.23 | $81.84 | +$28,620 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more ATLANTA pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-15 in ATLANTA: what to expect
Senior executives just below the Senior Executive Service. Division directors, senior scientists and agency experts typically top out at GS-15.
For 2020, the ATLANTA pay area adds a 22.16% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-15 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-14 level, plus demonstrated leadership.
Promotion path. Further advancement requires selection into the Senior Executive Service (SES).
The rough military equivalent for GS-15 is O-6 Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-15 in ATLANTA
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $5,139 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $6,569. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2020 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-15 ATLANTA page.
Other grades in ATLANTA
GS-15 in ATLANTA questions
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How much does a GS-15 make in ATLANTA?
In 2020, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns $133,602 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $170,800. This is 22.16% higher than the base GS-15 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-15 in ATLANTA?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For ATLANTA in 2020, it is 22.16%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $24,236 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-15 in ATLANTA?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-15 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $5,139 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.