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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$64,625 GS-9 Step 1 in Atlanta (2025)
$84,010 GS-9 Step 10 in Atlanta (2025)
+$12,420 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2025 GS-9 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-9 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $64,625 $2,485.58 $30.97 +$12,420
Step 2 $66,779 $2,568.42 $32.00 +$12,834
Step 3 $68,932 $2,651.23 $33.03 +$13,247
Step 4 $71,086 $2,734.08 $34.06 +$13,661
Step 5 $73,240 $2,816.92 $35.09 +$14,075
Step 6 $75,394 $2,899.77 $36.13 +$14,489
Step 7 $77,548 $2,982.62 $37.16 +$14,903
Step 8 $79,702 $3,065.46 $38.19 +$15,317
Step 9 $81,856 $3,148.31 $39.22 +$15,731
Step 10 $84,010 $3,231.15 $40.25 +$16,145
← GS-8 Calculate my take-home GS-10 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Atlanta pays

  • Base GS-9 Step 1 $52,205
  • Atlanta GS-9 Step 1 $64,625
  • Locality add-on +$12,420
  • Adjustment percent 23.79%
  • Base GS-9 Step 10 $67,865
  • Atlanta GS-9 Step 10 $84,010

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-9 in Atlanta: what to expect

Full performance for many professional and administrative careers, including management analysts, contract specialists, social workers and IT specialists.

For 2025, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.79% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-9 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.

Qualifications and career path

Minimum qualifications. A master's degree or equivalent graduate education, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-7 level.

Promotion path. Career-ladder promotion to GS-11 after one year of specialized GS-9 experience.

The rough military equivalent for GS-9 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-9 in Atlanta

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $2,486 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,231. 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-9 Atlanta page.

Other grades in Atlanta

GS-9 in Atlanta questions

  • How much does a GS-9 make in Atlanta?
    In 2025, a GS-9 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $64,625 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $84,010. This is 23.79% higher than the base GS-9 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-9 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-9 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,420 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-9 in Atlanta?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-9 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $2,486 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.