2023 GS-15 Pay in Atlanta
GS-15 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.02% on top of the base GS-15 pay scale. That means a GS-15 Step 1 salary jumps from $117,518 on the base table to $144,571 in Atlanta.
2023 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 | $144,571 | $5,560.42 | $69.27 | +$27,053 |
| Step 2 | $149,389 | $5,745.73 | $71.58 | +$27,954 |
| Step 3 | $154,208 | $5,931.08 | $73.89 | +$28,856 |
| Step 4 | $159,027 | $6,116.42 | $76.20 | +$29,758 |
| Step 5 | $163,845 | $6,301.73 | $78.51 | +$30,659 |
| Step 6 | $168,664 | $6,487.08 | $80.82 | +$31,561 |
| Step 7 | $173,483 | $6,672.42 | $83.13 | +$32,463 |
| Step 8 | $178,301 | $6,857.73 | $85.43 | +$33,364 |
| Step 9 | $183,120 | $7,043.08 | $87.74 | +$34,266 |
| Step 10 | $183,500 | $7,057.69 | $87.93 | +$30,729 |
2023 GS-15 pay table for Atlanta
Each step below already includes the 23.02% 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 | $144,571 | $5,560.42 | $69.27 | +$27,053 |
| Step 2 | $149,389 | $5,745.73 | $71.58 | +$27,954 |
| Step 3 | $154,208 | $5,931.08 | $73.89 | +$28,856 |
| Step 4 | $159,027 | $6,116.42 | $76.20 | +$29,758 |
| Step 5 | $163,845 | $6,301.73 | $78.51 | +$30,659 |
| Step 6 | $168,664 | $6,487.08 | $80.82 | +$31,561 |
| Step 7 | $173,483 | $6,672.42 | $83.13 | +$32,463 |
| Step 8 | $178,301 | $6,857.73 | $85.43 | +$33,364 |
| Step 9 | $183,120 | $7,043.08 | $87.74 | +$34,266 |
| Step 10 | $183,500 | $7,057.69 | $87.93 | +$30,729 |
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 2023, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.02% 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 $5,560 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $7,058. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2023 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 2023, a GS-15 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $144,571 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $183,500. This is 23.02% 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 2023, it is 23.02%. On a GS-15 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $27,053 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 $5,560 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.