2021 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 $30,414 on the base table to $37,154 in ATLANTA.
2021 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 | $37,154 | $1,429.00 | $17.80 | +$6,740 |
| Step 2 | $38,392 | $1,476.62 | $18.40 | +$6,964 |
| Step 3 | $39,631 | $1,524.27 | $18.99 | +$7,189 |
| Step 4 | $40,870 | $1,571.92 | $19.58 | +$7,414 |
| Step 5 | $42,109 | $1,619.58 | $20.18 | +$7,639 |
| Step 6 | $43,347 | $1,667.19 | $20.77 | +$7,863 |
| Step 7 | $44,586 | $1,714.85 | $21.36 | +$8,088 |
| Step 8 | $45,825 | $1,762.50 | $21.96 | +$8,313 |
| Step 9 | $47,063 | $1,810.12 | $22.55 | +$8,537 |
| Step 10 | $48,302 | $1,857.77 | $23.14 | +$8,762 |
2021 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 | $37,154 | $1,429.00 | $17.80 | +$6,740 |
| Step 2 | $38,392 | $1,476.62 | $18.40 | +$6,964 |
| Step 3 | $39,631 | $1,524.27 | $18.99 | +$7,189 |
| Step 4 | $40,870 | $1,571.92 | $19.58 | +$7,414 |
| Step 5 | $42,109 | $1,619.58 | $20.18 | +$7,639 |
| Step 6 | $43,347 | $1,667.19 | $20.77 | +$7,863 |
| Step 7 | $44,586 | $1,714.85 | $21.36 | +$8,088 |
| Step 8 | $45,825 | $1,762.50 | $21.96 | +$8,313 |
| Step 9 | $47,063 | $1,810.12 | $22.55 | +$8,537 |
| Step 10 | $48,302 | $1,857.77 | $23.14 | +$8,762 |
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 2021, 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 $1,429 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,858. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-5 ATLANTA page.
Other grades in ATLANTA
GS-5 in ATLANTA questions
-
How much does a GS-5 make in ATLANTA?
In 2021, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns $37,154 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $48,302. 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 2021, it is 22.16%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,740 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 $1,429 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.