2025 GS-5 Pay in Atlanta
GS-5 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.79% on top of the base GS-5 pay scale. That means a GS-5 Step 1 salary jumps from $34,454 on the base table to $42,651 in Atlanta.
2025 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 | $42,651 | $1,640.42 | $20.44 | +$8,197 |
| Step 2 | $44,072 | $1,695.08 | $21.12 | +$8,470 |
| Step 3 | $45,493 | $1,749.73 | $21.80 | +$8,743 |
| Step 4 | $46,914 | $1,804.38 | $22.48 | +$9,016 |
| Step 5 | $48,335 | $1,859.04 | $23.16 | +$9,289 |
| Step 6 | $49,756 | $1,913.69 | $23.84 | +$9,562 |
| Step 7 | $51,177 | $1,968.35 | $24.52 | +$9,835 |
| Step 8 | $52,598 | $2,023.00 | $25.20 | +$10,108 |
| Step 9 | $54,019 | $2,077.65 | $25.88 | +$10,381 |
| Step 10 | $55,441 | $2,132.35 | $26.56 | +$10,655 |
2025 GS-5 pay table for Atlanta
Each step below already includes the 23.79% 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 | $42,651 | $1,640.42 | $20.44 | +$8,197 |
| Step 2 | $44,072 | $1,695.08 | $21.12 | +$8,470 |
| Step 3 | $45,493 | $1,749.73 | $21.80 | +$8,743 |
| Step 4 | $46,914 | $1,804.38 | $22.48 | +$9,016 |
| Step 5 | $48,335 | $1,859.04 | $23.16 | +$9,289 |
| Step 6 | $49,756 | $1,913.69 | $23.84 | +$9,562 |
| Step 7 | $51,177 | $1,968.35 | $24.52 | +$9,835 |
| Step 8 | $52,598 | $2,023.00 | $25.20 | +$10,108 |
| Step 9 | $54,019 | $2,077.65 | $25.88 | +$10,381 |
| Step 10 | $55,441 | $2,132.35 | $26.56 | +$10,655 |
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 2025, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.79% 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 $1,640 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,132. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2025 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 2025, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $42,651 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $55,441. This is 23.79% 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 2025, it is 23.79%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,197 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 $1,640 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.