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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$44,335 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2016)
$57,631 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2016)
+$5,564 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2016 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 14.35% 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 $44,335 $1,705.19 $21.24 +$5,564
Step 2 $45,812 $1,762.00 $21.95 +$5,749
Step 3 $47,289 $1,818.81 $22.66 +$5,934
Step 4 $48,767 $1,875.65 $23.37 +$6,120
Step 5 $50,244 $1,932.46 $24.07 +$6,305
Step 6 $51,722 $1,989.31 $24.78 +$6,491
Step 7 $53,199 $2,046.12 $25.49 +$6,676
Step 8 $54,676 $2,102.92 $26.20 +$6,861
Step 9 $56,154 $2,159.77 $26.91 +$7,047
Step 10 $57,631 $2,216.58 $27.61 +$7,232
← 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 $38,771
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $44,335
  • Locality add-on +$5,564
  • Adjustment percent 14.35%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $50,399
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $57,631

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 2016, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 14.35% 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 $1,705 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,217. 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 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 2016, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $44,335 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $57,631. This is 14.35% 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 2016, it is 14.35%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,564 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 $1,705 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.