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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$49,408 GS-8 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2015)
$64,235 GS-8 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2015)
+$11,021 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-8 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 28.71% locality adjustment. The "Locality add-on" column shows how much locality pay is adding compared with the base GS-8 table.

Step Annual salary Biweekly pay Hourly rate Locality add-on
Step 1 $49,408 $1,900.31 $23.67 +$11,021
Step 2 $51,055 $1,963.65 $24.46 +$11,388
Step 3 $52,703 $2,027.04 $25.25 +$11,756
Step 4 $54,350 $2,090.38 $26.04 +$12,123
Step 5 $55,998 $2,153.77 $26.83 +$12,491
Step 6 $57,645 $2,217.12 $27.62 +$12,858
Step 7 $59,293 $2,280.50 $28.41 +$13,226
Step 8 $60,940 $2,343.85 $29.20 +$13,593
Step 9 $62,588 $2,407.23 $29.99 +$13,961
Step 10 $64,235 $2,470.58 $30.78 +$14,328
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,387
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 1 $49,408
  • Locality add-on +$11,021
  • Adjustment percent 28.71%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $49,907
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 10 $64,235

Step-increase waiting periods

  • Step 1 → Step 2 52 weeks
  • Step 2 → Step 3 52 weeks
  • Step 3 → Step 4 52 weeks
  • Step 4 → Step 5 104 weeks
  • Step 5 → Step 6 104 weeks
  • Step 6 → Step 7 104 weeks
  • Step 7 → Step 8 156 weeks
  • Step 8 → Step 9 156 weeks
  • Step 9 → Step 10 156 weeks

GS-8 in HOUSTON: what to expect

Senior technicians, investigators and lead administrative support. Less common than GS-7 or GS-9, often reserved for specialized technical work.

For 2015, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 28.71% locality adjustment on top of the nationwide base GS schedule. Every GS-8 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-7 level.

Promotion path. Promoted to GS-9 after one year in grade.

The rough military equivalent for GS-8 is O-3 Captain, useful for comparing GS roles against enlisted and officer ranks when looking at pay or authority level.

Biweekly take-home for GS-8 in HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,900 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,471. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2015 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-8 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2015, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $49,408 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $64,235. This is 28.71% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2015, it is 28.71%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,021 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $1,900 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.