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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$43,823 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2015)
$56,974 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2015)
+$5,436 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 14.16% 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 $43,823 $1,685.50 $21.00 +$5,436
Step 2 $45,284 $1,741.69 $21.70 +$5,617
Step 3 $46,745 $1,797.88 $22.40 +$5,798
Step 4 $48,206 $1,854.08 $23.10 +$5,979
Step 5 $49,668 $1,910.31 $23.80 +$6,161
Step 6 $51,129 $1,966.50 $24.50 +$6,342
Step 7 $52,590 $2,022.69 $25.20 +$6,523
Step 8 $54,051 $2,078.88 $25.90 +$6,704
Step 9 $55,513 $2,135.12 $26.60 +$6,886
Step 10 $56,974 $2,191.31 $27.30 +$7,067
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,387
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $43,823
  • Locality add-on +$5,436
  • Adjustment percent 14.16%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $49,907
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $56,974

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 Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 14.16% 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 Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,686 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,191. 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 Rest of U.S. page.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-8 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2015, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $43,823 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $56,974. This is 14.16% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2015, it is 14.16%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,436 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,686 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.