2026 GS-1 Pay in Atlanta
GS-1 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.79% on top of the base GS-1 pay scale. That means a GS-1 Step 1 salary jumps from $22,584 on the base table to $27,957 in Atlanta.
2026 GS-1 Pay in Atlanta
Locality-adjusted GS-1 rates for Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $27,957 | $1,075.27 | $13.40 | +$5,373 |
| Step 2 | $28,894 | $1,111.31 | $13.84 | +$5,553 |
| Step 3 | $29,823 | $1,147.04 | $14.29 | +$5,731 |
| Step 4 | $30,749 | $1,182.65 | $14.73 | +$5,909 |
| Step 5 | $31,677 | $1,218.35 | $15.18 | +$6,088 |
| Step 6 | $32,220 | $1,239.23 | $15.44 | +$6,192 |
| Step 7 | $33,140 | $1,274.62 | $15.88 | +$6,369 |
| Step 8 | $34,066 | $1,310.23 | $16.32 | +$6,547 |
| Step 9 | $34,104 | $1,311.69 | $16.34 | +$6,554 |
| Step 10 | $34,968 | $1,344.92 | $16.76 | +$6,720 |
2026 GS-1 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-1 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $27,957 | $1,075.27 | $13.40 | +$5,373 |
| Step 2 | $28,894 | $1,111.31 | $13.84 | +$5,553 |
| Step 3 | $29,823 | $1,147.04 | $14.29 | +$5,731 |
| Step 4 | $30,749 | $1,182.65 | $14.73 | +$5,909 |
| Step 5 | $31,677 | $1,218.35 | $15.18 | +$6,088 |
| Step 6 | $32,220 | $1,239.23 | $15.44 | +$6,192 |
| Step 7 | $33,140 | $1,274.62 | $15.88 | +$6,369 |
| Step 8 | $34,066 | $1,310.23 | $16.32 | +$6,547 |
| Step 9 | $34,104 | $1,311.69 | $16.34 | +$6,554 |
| Step 10 | $34,968 | $1,344.92 | $16.76 | +$6,720 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Atlanta pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-1 in Atlanta: what to expect
Entry-level clerical, labor and support positions. GS-1 is rarely used today; most entry roles now start at GS-2 or GS-3.
For 2026, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.79% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-1 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. No formal education or experience required. Generally filled by workers with basic literacy and ability to follow simple instructions.
Promotion path. Promotion to GS-2 typically follows one year of satisfactory service.
The rough military equivalent for GS-1 is E-2 Private Second Class, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-1 in Atlanta
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-1 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $1,075 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $1,345. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Atlanta
GS-1 in Atlanta questions
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How much does a GS-1 make in Atlanta?
In 2026, a GS-1 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $27,957 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $34,968. This is 23.79% higher than the base GS-1 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-1 in Atlanta?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Atlanta in 2026, it is 23.79%. On a GS-1 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,373 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-1 in Atlanta?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-1 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $1,075 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.