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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$51,287 GS-8 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2017)
$66,669 GS-8 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2017)
+$12,128 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2017 GS-8 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 30.97% 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 $51,287 $1,972.58 $24.57 +$12,128
Step 2 $52,996 $2,038.31 $25.39 +$12,532
Step 3 $54,705 $2,104.04 $26.21 +$12,936
Step 4 $56,414 $2,169.77 $27.03 +$13,340
Step 5 $58,123 $2,235.50 $27.85 +$13,744
Step 6 $59,832 $2,301.23 $28.67 +$14,148
Step 7 $61,541 $2,366.96 $29.49 +$14,552
Step 8 $63,251 $2,432.73 $30.31 +$14,957
Step 9 $64,960 $2,498.46 $31.13 +$15,361
Step 10 $66,669 $2,564.19 $31.94 +$15,765
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $39,159
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 1 $51,287
  • Locality add-on +$12,128
  • Adjustment percent 30.97%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $50,904
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 10 $66,669

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 2017, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 30.97% 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 $1,973 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,564. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2017 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 2017, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $51,287 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,669. This is 30.97% 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 2017, it is 30.97%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,128 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 $1,973 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.