2024 GS-5 Pay in Atlanta
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.45% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $33,878 on the base table to $41,822 in Atlanta.
2024 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 | $41,822 | $1,608.54 | $20.04 | +$7,944 |
| Step 2 | $43,216 | $1,662.15 | $20.71 | +$8,209 |
| Step 3 | $44,610 | $1,715.77 | $21.38 | +$8,474 |
| Step 4 | $46,004 | $1,769.38 | $22.04 | +$8,739 |
| Step 5 | $47,397 | $1,822.96 | $22.71 | +$9,003 |
| Step 6 | $48,791 | $1,876.58 | $23.38 | +$9,268 |
| Step 7 | $50,185 | $1,930.19 | $24.05 | +$9,533 |
| Step 8 | $51,579 | $1,983.81 | $24.71 | +$9,798 |
| Step 9 | $52,972 | $2,037.38 | $25.38 | +$10,062 |
| Step 10 | $54,366 | $2,091.00 | $26.05 | +$10,327 |
2024 GS-5 pay table for Atlanta
Each step below already includes the 23.45% 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 | $41,822 | $1,608.54 | $20.04 | +$7,944 |
| Step 2 | $43,216 | $1,662.15 | $20.71 | +$8,209 |
| Step 3 | $44,610 | $1,715.77 | $21.38 | +$8,474 |
| Step 4 | $46,004 | $1,769.38 | $22.04 | +$8,739 |
| Step 5 | $47,397 | $1,822.96 | $22.71 | +$9,003 |
| Step 6 | $48,791 | $1,876.58 | $23.38 | +$9,268 |
| Step 7 | $50,185 | $1,930.19 | $24.05 | +$9,533 |
| Step 8 | $51,579 | $1,983.81 | $24.71 | +$9,798 |
| Step 9 | $52,972 | $2,037.38 | $25.38 | +$10,062 |
| Step 10 | $54,366 | $2,091.00 | $26.05 | +$10,327 |
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 2024, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.45% 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 $1,609 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,091. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 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 2024, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $41,822 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $54,366. This is 23.45% 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 2024, it is 23.45%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,944 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 $1,609 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.