2020 GS-5 Pay in ATLANTA
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 22.16% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $30,113 on the base table to $36,786 in ATLANTA.
2020 GS-5 Pay in ATLANTA
Locality-adjusted GS-5 rates for Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,786 | $1,414.85 | $17.63 | +$6,673 |
| Step 2 | $38,013 | $1,462.04 | $18.21 | +$6,896 |
| Step 3 | $39,239 | $1,509.19 | $18.80 | +$7,118 |
| Step 4 | $40,466 | $1,556.38 | $19.39 | +$7,341 |
| Step 5 | $41,692 | $1,603.54 | $19.98 | +$7,563 |
| Step 6 | $42,918 | $1,650.69 | $20.56 | +$7,785 |
| Step 7 | $44,145 | $1,697.88 | $21.15 | +$8,008 |
| Step 8 | $45,371 | $1,745.04 | $21.74 | +$8,230 |
| Step 9 | $46,598 | $1,792.23 | $22.33 | +$8,453 |
| Step 10 | $47,824 | $1,839.38 | $22.92 | +$8,675 |
2020 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $36,786 | $1,414.85 | $17.63 | +$6,673 |
| Step 2 | $38,013 | $1,462.04 | $18.21 | +$6,896 |
| Step 3 | $39,239 | $1,509.19 | $18.80 | +$7,118 |
| Step 4 | $40,466 | $1,556.38 | $19.39 | +$7,341 |
| Step 5 | $41,692 | $1,603.54 | $19.98 | +$7,563 |
| Step 6 | $42,918 | $1,650.69 | $20.56 | +$7,785 |
| Step 7 | $44,145 | $1,697.88 | $21.15 | +$8,008 |
| Step 8 | $45,371 | $1,745.04 | $21.74 | +$8,230 |
| Step 9 | $46,598 | $1,792.23 | $22.33 | +$8,453 |
| Step 10 | $47,824 | $1,839.38 | $22.92 | +$8,675 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more ATLANTA pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-5 in ATLANTA: what to expect
Entry-level professional and administrative positions, including many recent college graduates hired into program, budget, or HR roles.
For 2020, the ATLANTA pay area adds a 22.16% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-5 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A bachelor's degree, three years of general experience, or one year at the GS-4 level.
Promotion path. GS-5 is a common ladder start. Typical progression is GS-5 → GS-7 → GS-9.
The rough military equivalent for GS-5 is E-6 Staff Sergeant, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-5 in ATLANTA
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $1,415 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,839. 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-5 ATLANTA page.
Other grades in ATLANTA
GS-5 in ATLANTA questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in ATLANTA?
In 2020, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns $36,786 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $47,824. This is 22.16% higher than the base GS-5 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-5 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-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,673 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-5 in ATLANTA?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-5 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $1,415 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.