2026 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 $34,799 on the base table to $43,078 in Atlanta.
2026 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 | $43,078 | $1,656.85 | $20.64 | +$8,279 |
| Step 2 | $44,514 | $1,712.08 | $21.33 | +$8,555 |
| Step 3 | $45,950 | $1,767.31 | $22.02 | +$8,831 |
| Step 4 | $47,386 | $1,822.54 | $22.71 | +$9,107 |
| Step 5 | $48,822 | $1,877.77 | $23.39 | +$9,383 |
| Step 6 | $50,258 | $1,933.00 | $24.08 | +$9,659 |
| Step 7 | $51,693 | $1,988.19 | $24.77 | +$9,934 |
| Step 8 | $53,129 | $2,043.42 | $25.46 | +$10,210 |
| Step 9 | $54,565 | $2,098.65 | $26.15 | +$10,486 |
| Step 10 | $56,001 | $2,153.88 | $26.83 | +$10,762 |
2026 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 | $43,078 | $1,656.85 | $20.64 | +$8,279 |
| Step 2 | $44,514 | $1,712.08 | $21.33 | +$8,555 |
| Step 3 | $45,950 | $1,767.31 | $22.02 | +$8,831 |
| Step 4 | $47,386 | $1,822.54 | $22.71 | +$9,107 |
| Step 5 | $48,822 | $1,877.77 | $23.39 | +$9,383 |
| Step 6 | $50,258 | $1,933.00 | $24.08 | +$9,659 |
| Step 7 | $51,693 | $1,988.19 | $24.77 | +$9,934 |
| Step 8 | $53,129 | $2,043.42 | $25.46 | +$10,210 |
| Step 9 | $54,565 | $2,098.65 | $26.15 | +$10,486 |
| Step 10 | $56,001 | $2,153.88 | $26.83 | +$10,762 |
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 2026, 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 $1,657 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,154. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Other grades in Atlanta
GS-5 in Atlanta questions
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How much does a GS-5 make in Atlanta?
In 2026, a GS-5 Step 1 employee in Atlanta earns $43,078 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $56,001. 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 2026, it is 23.79%. On a GS-5 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,279 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 $1,657 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.