2022 GS-5 Pay in Atlanta
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 22.63% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $31,083 on the base table to $38,117 in Atlanta.
2022 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 | $38,117 | $1,466.04 | $18.26 | +$7,034 |
| Step 2 | $39,388 | $1,514.92 | $18.87 | +$7,269 |
| Step 3 | $40,658 | $1,563.77 | $19.48 | +$7,503 |
| Step 4 | $41,928 | $1,612.62 | $20.09 | +$7,737 |
| Step 5 | $43,199 | $1,661.50 | $20.70 | +$7,972 |
| Step 6 | $44,469 | $1,710.35 | $21.31 | +$8,206 |
| Step 7 | $45,740 | $1,759.23 | $21.92 | +$8,441 |
| Step 8 | $47,010 | $1,808.08 | $22.53 | +$8,675 |
| Step 9 | $48,281 | $1,856.96 | $23.13 | +$8,910 |
| Step 10 | $49,551 | $1,905.81 | $23.74 | +$9,144 |
2022 GS-5 pay table for Atlanta
Each step below already includes the 22.63% 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 | $38,117 | $1,466.04 | $18.26 | +$7,034 |
| Step 2 | $39,388 | $1,514.92 | $18.87 | +$7,269 |
| Step 3 | $40,658 | $1,563.77 | $19.48 | +$7,503 |
| Step 4 | $41,928 | $1,612.62 | $20.09 | +$7,737 |
| Step 5 | $43,199 | $1,661.50 | $20.70 | +$7,972 |
| Step 6 | $44,469 | $1,710.35 | $21.31 | +$8,206 |
| Step 7 | $45,740 | $1,759.23 | $21.92 | +$8,441 |
| Step 8 | $47,010 | $1,808.08 | $22.53 | +$8,675 |
| Step 9 | $48,281 | $1,856.96 | $23.13 | +$8,910 |
| Step 10 | $49,551 | $1,905.81 | $23.74 | +$9,144 |
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 2022, the Atlanta pay area adds a 22.63% 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 $1,466 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,906. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2022 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 2022, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $38,117 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $49,551. This is 22.63% 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 2022, it is 22.63%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,034 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 $1,466 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.