2026 GS-11 Pay in Atlanta
GS-11 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.79% on top of the base GS-11 pay scale. That means a GS-11 Step 1 salary jumps from $63,795 on the base table to $78,972 in Atlanta.
2026 GS-11 Pay in Atlanta
Locality-adjusted GS-11 rates for Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $78,972 | $3,037.38 | $37.84 | +$15,177 |
| Step 2 | $81,605 | $3,138.65 | $39.10 | +$15,683 |
| Step 3 | $84,238 | $3,239.92 | $40.36 | +$16,189 |
| Step 4 | $86,871 | $3,341.19 | $41.62 | +$16,695 |
| Step 5 | $89,504 | $3,442.46 | $42.89 | +$17,201 |
| Step 6 | $92,137 | $3,543.73 | $44.15 | +$17,707 |
| Step 7 | $94,770 | $3,645.00 | $45.41 | +$18,213 |
| Step 8 | $97,403 | $3,746.27 | $46.67 | +$18,719 |
| Step 9 | $100,036 | $3,847.54 | $47.93 | +$19,225 |
| Step 10 | $102,669 | $3,948.81 | $49.19 | +$19,731 |
2026 GS-11 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-11 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $78,972 | $3,037.38 | $37.84 | +$15,177 |
| Step 2 | $81,605 | $3,138.65 | $39.10 | +$15,683 |
| Step 3 | $84,238 | $3,239.92 | $40.36 | +$16,189 |
| Step 4 | $86,871 | $3,341.19 | $41.62 | +$16,695 |
| Step 5 | $89,504 | $3,442.46 | $42.89 | +$17,201 |
| Step 6 | $92,137 | $3,543.73 | $44.15 | +$17,707 |
| Step 7 | $94,770 | $3,645.00 | $45.41 | +$18,213 |
| Step 8 | $97,403 | $3,746.27 | $46.67 | +$18,719 |
| Step 9 | $100,036 | $3,847.54 | $47.93 | +$19,225 |
| Step 10 | $102,669 | $3,948.81 | $49.19 | +$19,731 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Atlanta pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-11 in Atlanta: what to expect
Full performance for most professional careers: budget analysts, program managers, engineers, IT specialists and criminal investigators.
For 2026, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.79% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-11 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. A PhD or equivalent doctoral degree, or one year of specialized experience at the GS-9 level.
Promotion path. Typical career ladder peak for entry-level hires; competitive promotion to GS-12 requires vacancy and supervisory selection.
The rough military equivalent for GS-11 is O-4 Major, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-11 in Atlanta
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $3,037 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,949. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Atlanta
GS-11 in Atlanta questions
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How much does a GS-11 make in Atlanta?
In 2026, a GS-11 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $78,972 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $102,669. This is 23.79% higher than the base GS-11 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-11 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-11 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,177 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-11 in Atlanta?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-11 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $3,037 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.