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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,969 GS-8 Step 1 in ATLANTA (2021)
$66,262 GS-8 Step 10 in ATLANTA (2021)
+$9,246 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 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-8 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $50,969 $1,960.35 $24.42 +$9,246
Step 2 $52,668 $2,025.69 $25.24 +$9,554
Step 3 $54,367 $2,091.04 $26.05 +$9,862
Step 4 $56,067 $2,156.42 $26.86 +$10,171
Step 5 $57,766 $2,221.77 $27.68 +$10,479
Step 6 $59,465 $2,287.12 $28.49 +$10,787
Step 7 $61,164 $2,352.46 $29.31 +$11,095
Step 8 $62,864 $2,417.85 $30.12 +$11,404
Step 9 $64,563 $2,483.19 $30.94 +$11,712
Step 10 $66,262 $2,548.54 $31.75 +$12,020
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more ATLANTA pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • ATLANTA GS-8 Step 1 $50,969
  • Locality add-on +$9,246
  • Adjustment percent 22.16%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • ATLANTA GS-8 Step 10 $66,262

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-8 in ATLANTA: what to expect

Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.

For 2021, the ATLANTA pay area adds a 22.16% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in ATLANTA

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $1,960 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,549. 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-8 ATLANTA page.

Other grades in ATLANTA

GS-8 in ATLANTA questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in ATLANTA?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns $50,969 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,262. This is 22.16% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 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-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,246 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in ATLANTA?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in ATLANTA earns roughly $1,960 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.