2026 GS-13 Pay in Atlanta
GS-13 employees with a duty station in Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL earn 23.79% on top of the base GS-13 pay scale. That means a GS-13 Step 1 salary jumps from $90,925 on the base table to $112,556 in Atlanta.
2026 GS-13 Pay in Atlanta
Locality-adjusted GS-13 rates for Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $112,556 | $4,329.08 | $53.93 | +$21,631 |
| Step 2 | $116,308 | $4,473.38 | $55.73 | +$22,352 |
| Step 3 | $120,060 | $4,617.69 | $57.53 | +$23,073 |
| Step 4 | $123,812 | $4,762.00 | $59.33 | +$23,794 |
| Step 5 | $127,564 | $4,906.31 | $61.12 | +$24,515 |
| Step 6 | $131,316 | $5,050.62 | $62.92 | +$25,236 |
| Step 7 | $135,069 | $5,194.96 | $64.72 | +$25,958 |
| Step 8 | $138,821 | $5,339.27 | $66.52 | +$26,679 |
| Step 9 | $142,573 | $5,483.58 | $68.31 | +$27,400 |
| Step 10 | $146,325 | $5,627.88 | $70.11 | +$28,121 |
2026 GS-13 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-13 table.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $112,556 | $4,329.08 | $53.93 | +$21,631 |
| Step 2 | $116,308 | $4,473.38 | $55.73 | +$22,352 |
| Step 3 | $120,060 | $4,617.69 | $57.53 | +$23,073 |
| Step 4 | $123,812 | $4,762.00 | $59.33 | +$23,794 |
| Step 5 | $127,564 | $4,906.31 | $61.12 | +$24,515 |
| Step 6 | $131,316 | $5,050.62 | $62.92 | +$25,236 |
| Step 7 | $135,069 | $5,194.96 | $64.72 | +$25,958 |
| Step 8 | $138,821 | $5,339.27 | $66.52 | +$26,679 |
| Step 9 | $142,573 | $5,483.58 | $68.31 | +$27,400 |
| Step 10 | $146,325 | $5,627.88 | $70.11 | +$28,121 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Atlanta pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-13 in Atlanta: what to expect
Senior specialists, first-line supervisors and subject-matter experts. Many IT, acquisition, legal and program-manager roles live at GS-13.
For 2026, the Atlanta pay area adds a 23.79% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-13 employee assigned to this area benefits from that same percentage, regardless of step or series.
Qualifications and career path
Minimum qualifications. One year of specialized experience at the GS-12 level.
Promotion path. Competitive promotion to GS-14 requires a GS-14 vacancy, often with supervisory responsibilities.
The rough military equivalent for GS-13 is O-5 Lieutenant Colonel, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.
Biweekly take-home for GS-13 in Atlanta
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $4,329 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $5,628. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Atlanta
GS-13 in Atlanta questions
-
How much does a GS-13 make in Atlanta?
In 2026, a GS-13 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $112,556 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $146,325. This is 23.79% higher than the base GS-13 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-13 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-13 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $21,631 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-13 in Atlanta?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-13 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns roughly $4,329 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.