2026 GS Pay: Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL
The Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL locality pay area adds 23.79% locality pay to the GS base table. Figures are from OPM's Salary Table 2026-ATL, effective January 2026.
- Locality pay
- 23.79%
- Annual pay range
- $27,957 to $197,200
- GS-1 step 1 to GS-15 step 10
- Capped cells
- 2 of 150
Annual pay by grade and step
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $27,957 | $28,894 | $29,823 | $30,749 | $31,677 | $32,220 | $33,140 | $34,066 | $34,104 | $34,968 |
| GS-2 | $31,434 | $32,182 | $33,224 | $34,104 | $34,485 | $35,499 | $36,513 | $37,527 | $38,541 | $39,555 |
| GS-3 | $34,300 | $35,444 | $36,587 | $37,731 | $38,875 | $40,019 | $41,163 | $42,306 | $43,450 | $44,594 |
| 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 | $197,200Capped | $197,200Capped |
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | $13.40 | $13.84 | $14.29 | $14.73 | $15.18 | $15.44 | $15.88 | $16.32 | $16.34 | $16.76 |
| GS-2 | $15.06 | $15.42 | $15.92 | $16.34 | $16.52 | $17.01 | $17.50 | $17.98 | $18.47 | $18.95 |
| GS-3 | $16.44 | $16.98 | $17.53 | $18.08 | $18.63 | $19.18 | $19.72 | $20.27 | $20.82 | $21.37 |
| 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 | $94.49Capped | $94.49Capped |
Compare Atlanta--Athens-Clarke County--Sandy Springs, GA-AL with other locality pay areas
Where this locality pay area is
OPM's 2026 definitions list 64 places in this area, in AL, GA. The legal definition is in 5 CFR 531.603.
| Place | State | FIPS code |
|---|---|---|
| Banks County, GA | GA | 13011 |
| Barrow County, GA | GA | 13013 |
| Bartow County, GA | GA | 13015 |
| Butts County, GA | GA | 13035 |
| Carroll County, GA | GA | 13045 |
| Chattahoochee County, GA | GA | 13053 |
| Cherokee County, GA | GA | 13057 |
| Clarke County, GA | GA | 13059 |
| Clayton County, GA | GA | 13063 |
| Cobb County, GA | GA | 13067 |
| Coweta County, GA | GA | 13077 |
| Dawson County, GA | GA | 13085 |
| DeKalb County, GA | GA | 13089 |
| Douglas County, GA | GA | 13097 |
| Elbert County, GA | GA | 13105 |
| Fayette County, GA | GA | 13113 |
| Floyd County, GA | GA | 13115 |
| Forsyth County, GA | GA | 13117 |
| Franklin County, GA | GA | 13119 |
| Fulton County, GA | GA | 13121 |
| Gilmer County, GA | GA | 13123 |
| Gordon County, GA | GA | 13129 |
| Greene County, GA | GA | 13133 |
| Gwinnett County, GA | GA | 13135 |
| Habersham County, GA | GA | 13137 |
| Hall County, GA | GA | 13139 |
| Haralson County, GA | GA | 13143 |
| Harris County, GA | GA | 13145 |
| Heard County, GA | GA | 13149 |
| Henry County, GA | GA | 13151 |
| Jackson County, GA | GA | 13157 |
| Jasper County, GA | GA | 13159 |
| Lamar County, GA | GA | 13171 |
| Lumpkin County, GA | GA | 13187 |
| Madison County, GA | GA | 13195 |
| Marion County, GA | GA | 13197 |
| Meriwether County, GA | GA | 13199 |
| Morgan County, GA | GA | 13211 |
| Muscogee County, GA | GA | 13215 |
| Newton County, GA | GA | 13217 |
| Oconee County, GA | GA | 13219 |
| Oglethorpe County, GA | GA | 13221 |
| Paulding County, GA | GA | 13223 |
| Pickens County, GA | GA | 13227 |
| Pike County, GA | GA | 13231 |
| Polk County, GA | GA | 13233 |
| Putnam County, GA | GA | 13237 |
| Rabun County, GA | GA | 13241 |
| Rockdale County, GA | GA | 13247 |
| Spalding County, GA | GA | 13255 |
| Stephens County, GA | GA | 13257 |
| Stewart County, GA | GA | 13259 |
| Talbot County, GA | GA | 13263 |
| Taliaferro County, GA | GA | 13265 |
| Troup County, GA | GA | 13285 |
| Upson County, GA | GA | 13293 |
| Walton County, GA | GA | 13297 |
| White County, GA | GA | 13311 |
| Chambers County, AL | AL | 01017 |
| Cherokee County, AL | AL | 01019 |
| Cleburne County, AL | AL | 01029 |
| Lee County, AL | AL | 01081 |
| Randolph County, AL | AL | 01111 |
| Russell County, AL | AL | 01113 |
Changes from 2025
Locality pay was 23.79% in 2025 and is 23.79% in 2026 (0.00 points). The base table went up 1% for 2026.
| Grade | Step 1 | Step 2 | Step 3 | Step 4 | Step 5 | Step 6 | Step 7 | Step 8 | Step 9 | Step 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GS-1 | +$278+1.0% | +$286+1.0% | +$295+1.0% | +$304+1.0% | +$314+1.0% | +$319+1.0% | +$328+1.0% | +$337+1.0% | +$338+1.0% | +$344+1.0% |
| GS-2 | +$311+1.0% | +$318+1.0% | +$329+1.0% | +$338+1.0% | +$340+1.0% | +$350+1.0% | +$360+1.0% | +$370+1.0% | +$380+1.0% | +$390+1.0% |
| GS-3 | +$339+1.0% | +$352+1.0% | +$364+1.0% | +$376+1.0% | +$389+1.0% | +$401+1.0% | +$414+1.0% | +$425+1.0% | +$438+1.0% | +$450+1.0% |
| GS-4 | +$381+1.0% | +$394+1.0% | +$406+1.0% | +$419+1.0% | +$431+1.0% | +$443+1.0% | +$456+1.0% | +$468+1.0% | +$480+1.0% | +$493+1.0% |
| GS-5 | +$427+1.0% | +$442+1.0% | +$457+1.0% | +$472+1.0% | +$487+1.0% | +$502+1.0% | +$516+1.0% | +$531+1.0% | +$546+1.0% | +$560+1.0% |
| GS-6 | +$475+1.0% | +$491+1.0% | +$508+1.0% | +$523+1.0% | +$540+1.0% | +$555+1.0% | +$572+1.0% | +$588+1.0% | +$604+1.0% | +$620+1.0% |
| GS-7 | +$529+1.0% | +$546+1.0% | +$564+1.0% | +$581+1.0% | +$598+1.0% | +$615+1.0% | +$632+1.0% | +$650+1.0% | +$667+1.0% | +$685+1.0% |
| GS-8 | +$586+1.0% | +$604+1.0% | +$623+1.0% | +$641+1.0% | +$660+1.0% | +$678+1.0% | +$697+1.0% | +$715+1.0% | +$734+1.0% | +$752+1.0% |
| GS-9 | +$646+1.0% | +$668+1.0% | +$691+1.0% | +$713+1.0% | +$736+1.0% | +$758+1.0% | +$780+1.0% | +$802+1.0% | +$825+1.0% | +$847+1.0% |
| GS-10 | +$711+1.0% | +$736+1.0% | +$759+1.0% | +$782+1.0% | +$806+1.0% | +$829+1.0% | +$852+1.0% | +$877+1.0% | +$900+1.0% | +$923+1.0% |
| GS-11 | +$783+1.0% | +$810+1.0% | +$837+1.0% | +$864+1.0% | +$891+1.0% | +$919+1.0% | +$946+1.0% | +$973+1.0% | +$1,000+1.0% | +$1,028+1.0% |
| GS-12 | +$938+1.0% | +$968+1.0% | +$999+1.0% | +$1,030+1.0% | +$1,061+1.0% | +$1,092+1.0% | +$1,123+1.0% | +$1,153+1.0% | +$1,185+1.0% | +$1,215+1.0% |
| GS-13 | +$1,114+1.0% | +$1,151+1.0% | +$1,188+1.0% | +$1,225+1.0% | +$1,262+1.0% | +$1,299+1.0% | +$1,337+1.0% | +$1,374+1.0% | +$1,412+1.0% | +$1,449+1.0% |
| GS-14 | +$1,317+1.0% | +$1,362+1.0% | +$1,407+1.0% | +$1,451+1.0% | +$1,495+1.0% | +$1,540+1.0% | +$1,584+1.0% | +$1,630+1.0% | +$1,674+1.0% | +$1,718+1.0% |
| GS-15 | +$1,549+1.0% | +$1,601+1.0% | +$1,652+1.0% | +$1,705+1.0% | +$1,757+1.0% | +$1,808+1.0% | +$1,860+1.0% | +$1,913+1.0% | +$2,000+1.0%, Cap change | +$2,000+1.0%, Cap change |
Places in the area
The places in this area are the same as in 2025.
Data sources
- GS locality pay table, Salary Table 2026-ATL, effective January 2026
- From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): 2026 General Schedule tables, ATL.xml. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
- Pay cap (level IV of the Executive Schedule), Salary Table No. 2026-EX, effective January 2026
- From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): EX.xml. Retrieved October 18, 2026.
- GS locality pay table, Salary Table 2025-ATL, effective January 2025
- From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): 2025 General Schedule tables, ATL.xml. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
- Pay cap (level IV of the Executive Schedule), Salary Table No. 2025-EX, effective January 2025
- From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): EX.xml. Retrieved October 20, 2026.
- Locality pay area definitions, 2026
- From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): 2026 locality pay area definitions. Retrieved October 18, 2026.