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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,057 GS-8 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2016)
$65,070 GS-8 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2016)
+$11,286 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2016 GS-8 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 29.11% 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 $50,057 $1,925.27 $23.99 +$11,286
Step 2 $51,725 $1,989.42 $24.78 +$11,662
Step 3 $53,393 $2,053.58 $25.58 +$12,038
Step 4 $55,062 $2,117.77 $26.38 +$12,415
Step 5 $56,730 $2,181.92 $27.18 +$12,791
Step 6 $58,398 $2,246.08 $27.98 +$13,167
Step 7 $60,066 $2,310.23 $28.78 +$13,543
Step 8 $61,734 $2,374.38 $29.58 +$13,919
Step 9 $63,402 $2,438.54 $30.38 +$14,295
Step 10 $65,070 $2,502.69 $31.18 +$14,671
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $38,771
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 1 $50,057
  • Locality add-on +$11,286
  • Adjustment percent 29.11%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $50,399
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 10 $65,070

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 2016, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 29.11% 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 $1,925 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,503. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2016 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 2016, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $50,057 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,070. This is 29.11% 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 2016, it is 29.11%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,286 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 $1,925 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.