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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$47,684 GS-8 Step 1 in Washington DC (2015)
$61,994 GS-8 Step 10 in Washington DC (2015)
+$9,297 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2015 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC

Each step below already includes the 24.22% 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 $47,684 $1,834.00 $22.85 +$9,297
Step 2 $49,274 $1,895.15 $23.61 +$9,607
Step 3 $50,864 $1,956.31 $24.37 +$9,917
Step 4 $52,454 $2,017.46 $25.13 +$10,227
Step 5 $54,044 $2,078.62 $25.90 +$10,537
Step 6 $55,634 $2,139.77 $26.66 +$10,847
Step 7 $57,224 $2,200.92 $27.42 +$11,157
Step 8 $58,814 $2,262.08 $28.18 +$11,467
Step 9 $60,404 $2,323.23 $28.94 +$11,777
Step 10 $61,994 $2,384.38 $29.70 +$12,087
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Washington DC pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,387
  • Washington DC GS-8 Step 1 $47,684
  • Locality add-on +$9,297
  • Adjustment percent 24.22%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $49,907
  • Washington DC GS-8 Step 10 $61,994

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 Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 24.22% 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 Washington DC

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,834 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,384. 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 Washington DC page.

Other grades in Washington DC

GS-8 in Washington DC questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Washington DC?
    In 2015, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $47,684 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $61,994. This is 24.22% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Washington DC?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2015, it is 24.22%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,297 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Washington DC?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,834 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.