GS Pay Scale 2026 Atlanta
Atlanta GS employees get 23.79% locality pay in 2026 under the Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL area, 6.73 percentage points above Rest of U.S. (17.06%); that is the 20th highest of 58 areas. GS-12 step 1 pays $94,654 a year ($45.35 per hour), $5,146 more than Rest of U.S., and the table runs from $35,048 (GS-1 step 1) to $197,200 (GS-15 step 10).
Rates are OPM's 2026 tables (checked October 23, 2026). For your own grade, step and duty station use the GS pay calculator, or see how to read the GS pay scale. Looking for next year? See federal pay raise 2027.
Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM tables checked October 23, 2026 · Methodology & sources
GS pay scale 2026 Atlanta: annual pay
Annual pay for GS-1 to GS-15, steps 1 to 10, in the Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL locality pay area (23.79%). An asterisk marks a rate limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap and a dagger (†) marks a rate set by special rate table 001M.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $35,048† (special rate table 001M) | $35,772† (special rate table 001M) | $36,496† (special rate table 001M) | $37,220† (special rate table 001M) | $37,944† (special rate table 001M) | $38,668† (special rate table 001M) | $39,392† (special rate table 001M) | $40,116† (special rate table 001M) | $40,840† (special rate table 001M) | $41,564† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $35,749† (special rate table 001M) | $36,568† (special rate table 001M) | $37,387† (special rate table 001M) | $38,206† (special rate table 001M) | $39,025† (special rate table 001M) | $39,844† (special rate table 001M) | $40,663† (special rate table 001M) | $41,482† (special rate table 001M) | $42,301† (special rate table 001M) | $43,120† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $36,464† (special rate table 001M) | $37,388† (special rate table 001M) | $38,312† (special rate table 001M) | $39,236† (special rate table 001M) | $40,160† (special rate table 001M) | $41,084† (special rate table 001M) | $42,008† (special rate table 001M) | $42,932† (special rate table 001M) | $43,856† (special rate table 001M) | $44,780† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $38,502 | $39,786 | $41,070 | $42,354 | $43,637 | $44,921 | $46,205 | $47,488 | $48,772 | $50,056 |
| GS-5 | $43,078 | $44,514 | $45,950 | $47,386 | $48,822 | $50,258 | $51,693 | $53,129 | $54,565 | $56,001 |
| GS-6 | $48,019 | $49,620 | $51,221 | $52,821 | $54,422 | $56,022 | $57,623 | $59,224 | $60,824 | $62,425 |
| GS-7 | $53,361 | $55,140 | $56,919 | $58,698 | $60,476 | $62,255 | $64,034 | $65,813 | $67,592 | $69,371 |
| GS-8 | $59,095 | $61,064 | $63,034 | $65,003 | $66,973 | $68,942 | $70,912 | $72,881 | $74,851 | $76,820 |
| GS-9 | $65,271 | $67,447 | $69,623 | $71,799 | $73,976 | $76,152 | $78,328 | $80,504 | $82,681 | $84,857 |
| GS-10 | $71,877 | $74,273 | $76,668 | $79,063 | $81,459 | $83,854 | $86,249 | $88,645 | $91,040 | $93,435 |
| GS-11 | $78,972 | $81,605 | $84,238 | $86,871 | $89,504 | $92,137 | $94,770 | $97,403 | $100,036 | $102,669 |
| GS-12 | $94,654 | $97,809 | $100,964 | $104,120 | $107,275 | $110,431 | $113,586 | $116,741 | $119,897 | $123,052 |
| GS-13 | $112,556 | $116,308 | $120,060 | $123,812 | $127,564 | $131,316 | $135,069 | $138,821 | $142,573 | $146,325 |
| GS-14 | $133,007 | $137,442 | $141,876 | $146,310 | $150,744 | $155,178 | $159,612 | $164,047 | $168,481 | $172,915 |
| GS-15 | $156,451 | $161,666 | $166,881 | $172,097 | $177,312 | $182,527 | $187,742 | $192,958 | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) | $197,200* (limited to the EX-IV cap) |
Rates marked † are set by OPM special rate table 001M, which applies to all General Schedule employees whose worksite is in the United States when it pays more than the locality rate (5 U.S.C. 5305(h); 5 CFR 530.303(d)). In Atlanta it sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates; everywhere else in the table the locality rate from OPM's locality table applies. OPM special rate table 001M. Occupation-specific special rate tables are not included.
GS hourly pay 2026 Atlanta
Hourly pay is the annual rate divided by 2,087 and rounded to the cent, as OPM prints it. Multiply by 80 for the biweekly rate before deductions (5 U.S.C. 5504(b)).
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $16.79† (special rate table 001M) | $17.14† (special rate table 001M) | $17.49† (special rate table 001M) | $17.83† (special rate table 001M) | $18.18† (special rate table 001M) | $18.53† (special rate table 001M) | $18.87† (special rate table 001M) | $19.22† (special rate table 001M) | $19.57† (special rate table 001M) | $19.92† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-2 | $17.13† (special rate table 001M) | $17.52† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.31† (special rate table 001M) | $18.70† (special rate table 001M) | $19.09† (special rate table 001M) | $19.48† (special rate table 001M) | $19.88† (special rate table 001M) | $20.27† (special rate table 001M) | $20.66† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-3 | $17.47† (special rate table 001M) | $17.91† (special rate table 001M) | $18.36† (special rate table 001M) | $18.80† (special rate table 001M) | $19.24† (special rate table 001M) | $19.69† (special rate table 001M) | $20.13† (special rate table 001M) | $20.57† (special rate table 001M) | $21.01† (special rate table 001M) | $21.46† (special rate table 001M) |
| GS-4 | $18.45 | $19.06 | $19.68 | $20.29 | $20.91 | $21.52 | $22.14 | $22.75 | $23.37 | $23.98 |
| GS-5 | $20.64 | $21.33 | $22.02 | $22.71 | $23.39 | $24.08 | $24.77 | $25.46 | $26.15 | $26.83 |
| GS-6 | $23.01 | $23.78 | $24.54 | $25.31 | $26.08 | $26.84 | $27.61 | $28.38 | $29.14 | $29.91 |
| GS-7 | $25.57 | $26.42 | $27.27 | $28.13 | $28.98 | $29.83 | $30.68 | $31.53 | $32.39 | $33.24 |
| GS-8 | $28.32 | $29.26 | $30.20 | $31.15 | $32.09 | $33.03 | $33.98 | $34.92 | $35.87 | $36.81 |
| GS-9 | $31.28 | $32.32 | $33.36 | $34.40 | $35.45 | $36.49 | $37.53 | $38.57 | $39.62 | $40.66 |
| GS-10 | $34.44 | $35.59 | $36.74 | $37.88 | $39.03 | $40.18 | $41.33 | $42.47 | $43.62 | $44.77 |
| GS-11 | $37.84 | $39.10 | $40.36 | $41.62 | $42.89 | $44.15 | $45.41 | $46.67 | $47.93 | $49.19 |
| GS-12 | $45.35 | $46.87 | $48.38 | $49.89 | $51.40 | $52.91 | $54.43 | $55.94 | $57.45 | $58.96 |
| GS-13 | $53.93 | $55.73 | $57.53 | $59.33 | $61.12 | $62.92 | $64.72 | $66.52 | $68.31 | $70.11 |
| GS-14 | $63.73 | $65.86 | $67.98 | $70.11 | $72.23 | $74.35 | $76.48 | $78.60 | $80.73 | $82.85 |
| GS-15 | $74.96 | $77.46 | $79.96 | $82.46 | $84.96 | $87.46 | $89.96 | $92.46 | $94.49 | $94.49 |
Atlanta compared with Rest of U.S.
- Atlanta has the 20th highest locality percentage of the 58 areas (23.79%); Rest of U.S. is 17.06%.
- GS-12 pay in Atlanta runs from $94,654 at step 1 to $123,052 at step 10; Rest of U.S. pays $89,508 at step 1.
- Atlanta first reaches $100,000 at GS-11 step 9 ($100,036).
- The $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap limits 2 rates in Atlanta, so GS-15 step 10 is $197,200 rather than the uncapped amount.
- Special rate table 001M sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Atlanta; GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,957.
| Grade, step 1 | Atlanta | Rest of U.S. | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| GS-5 | $43,078 | $40,736 | +$2,342 |
| GS-7 | $53,361 | $50,460 | +$2,901 |
| GS-9 | $65,271 | $61,722 | +$3,549 |
| GS-11 | $78,972 | $74,678 | +$4,294 |
| GS-12 | $94,654 | $89,508 | +$5,146 |
| GS-13 | $112,556 | $106,437 | +$6,119 |
| GS-14 | $133,007 | $125,776 | +$7,231 |
| GS-15 | $156,451 | $147,945 | +$8,506 |
Counties in the Atlanta pay area
The Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL area covers the 64 counties and places below, from OPM's 2026 locality pay area definitions. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
Georgia: Banks County, GA; Barrow County, GA; Bartow County, GA; Butts County, GA; Carroll County, GA; Chattahoochee County, GA; Cherokee County, GA; Clarke County, GA; Clayton County, GA; Cobb County, GA; Coweta County, GA; Dawson County, GA; DeKalb County, GA; Douglas County, GA; Elbert County, GA; Fayette County, GA; Floyd County, GA; Forsyth County, GA; Franklin County, GA; Fulton County, GA; Gilmer County, GA; Gordon County, GA; Greene County, GA; Gwinnett County, GA; Habersham County, GA; Hall County, GA; Haralson County, GA; Harris County, GA; Heard County, GA; Henry County, GA; Jackson County, GA; Jasper County, GA; Lamar County, GA; Lumpkin County, GA; Madison County, GA; Marion County, GA; Meriwether County, GA; Morgan County, GA; Muscogee County, GA; Newton County, GA; Oconee County, GA; Oglethorpe County, GA; Paulding County, GA; Pickens County, GA; Pike County, GA; Polk County, GA; Putnam County, GA; Rabun County, GA; Rockdale County, GA; Spalding County, GA; Stephens County, GA; Stewart County, GA; Talbot County, GA; Taliaferro County, GA; Troup County, GA; Upson County, GA; Walton County, GA; White County, GA
Alabama: Chambers County, AL; Cherokee County, AL; Cleburne County, AL; Lee County, AL; Randolph County, AL; Russell County, AL
GS pay scale pages
Atlanta GS pay questions
What is GS-12 step 1 pay in Atlanta in 2026?
GS-12 step 1 in Atlanta pays $94,654 a year in 2026, which is $45.35 per hour or $3,628.00 biweekly before deductions, at 23.79% locality pay. Step 10 pays $123,052. Rest of U.S. GS-12 step 1 is $89,508, so Atlanta pays $5,146 more.
What is the GS locality pay percentage for Atlanta in 2026?
Atlanta is in OPM's Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL locality pay area, which gets 23.79% in 2026, the 20th highest of 58 areas and 6.73 points above Rest of U.S. at 17.06%. Your duty station, not your home address, decides your area.
How much does a GS-7 make in Atlanta in 2026?
GS-7 pay in Atlanta runs from $53,361 at step 1 ($25.57 per hour) to $69,371 at step 10 ($33.24 per hour).
How much does a GS-9 make in Atlanta in 2026?
GS-9 pay in Atlanta runs from $65,271 at step 1 ($31.28 per hour) to $84,857 at step 10 ($40.66 per hour).
How much does a GS-13 make in Atlanta in 2026?
GS-13 pay in Atlanta runs from $112,556 at step 1 to $146,325 at step 10. At step 1 that is $6,119 more than Rest of U.S. ($106,437).
What is the highest GS pay in Atlanta in 2026?
GS-15 step 10 is the top rate in Atlanta: $197,200 a year ($94.49 per hour), limited to the $197,200 Executive Schedule level IV cap. The lowest is GS-1 step 1 at $35,048.
Does special rate table 001M change GS-1 to GS-4 pay in Atlanta?
Yes, in part. Where special rate table 001M is higher than the locality rate it is the payable rate, and it sets 30 of the 40 GS-1 to GS-4 rates in Atlanta (GS-1: 10 steps, GS-2: 10, GS-3: 10, GS-4: 0). Those cells are marked with a dagger. GS-1 step 1 is $35,048 instead of the locality rate of $27,957.
Which counties are in the Atlanta GS locality pay area?
OPM's Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL locality pay area covers 64 counties and places in Georgia and Alabama. The full list from OPM's 2026 definitions is on this page.
Will Atlanta GS pay change in 2027?
The 2027 federal pay raise is not final and OPM has not published 2027 salary tables, so every rate on this page is a 2026 rate. Step increases and promotions are separate from the annual raise.
Estimates for planning. Special rates, law enforcement rates and your agency's application of OPM rules can differ. Your SF-50 and your agency HR office are authoritative.