2023 GS-5 Pay in Atlanta
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.02% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $32,357 on the base table to $39,806 in Atlanta.
2023 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 | $39,806 | $1,531.00 | $19.07 | +$7,449 |
| Step 2 | $41,133 | $1,582.04 | $19.71 | +$7,697 |
| Step 3 | $42,460 | $1,633.08 | $20.34 | +$7,945 |
| Step 4 | $43,788 | $1,684.15 | $20.98 | +$8,194 |
| Step 5 | $45,115 | $1,735.19 | $21.62 | +$8,442 |
| Step 6 | $46,443 | $1,786.27 | $22.25 | +$8,691 |
| Step 7 | $47,770 | $1,837.31 | $22.89 | +$8,939 |
| Step 8 | $49,097 | $1,888.35 | $23.53 | +$9,187 |
| Step 9 | $50,425 | $1,939.42 | $24.16 | +$9,436 |
| Step 10 | $51,752 | $1,990.46 | $24.80 | +$9,684 |
2023 GS-5 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-5 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $39,806 | $1,531.00 | $19.07 | +$7,449 |
| Step 2 | $41,133 | $1,582.04 | $19.71 | +$7,697 |
| Step 3 | $42,460 | $1,633.08 | $20.34 | +$7,945 |
| Step 4 | $43,788 | $1,684.15 | $20.98 | +$8,194 |
| Step 5 | $45,115 | $1,735.19 | $21.62 | +$8,442 |
| Step 6 | $46,443 | $1,786.27 | $22.25 | +$8,691 |
| Step 7 | $47,770 | $1,837.31 | $22.89 | +$8,939 |
| Step 8 | $49,097 | $1,888.35 | $23.53 | +$9,187 |
| Step 9 | $50,425 | $1,939.42 | $24.16 | +$9,436 |
| Step 10 | $51,752 | $1,990.46 | $24.80 | +$9,684 |
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 2023, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.02% 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 $1,531 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,990. 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-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 2023, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $39,806 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $51,752. This is 23.02% 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 2023, it is 23.02%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,449 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 $1,531 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.