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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$45,056 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2017)
$58,570 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2017)
+$5,897 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2017 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.06% 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 $45,056 $1,732.92 $21.59 +$5,897
Step 2 $46,558 $1,790.69 $22.31 +$6,094
Step 3 $48,059 $1,848.42 $23.03 +$6,290
Step 4 $49,561 $1,906.19 $23.75 +$6,487
Step 5 $51,062 $1,963.92 $24.47 +$6,683
Step 6 $52,564 $2,021.69 $25.19 +$6,880
Step 7 $54,066 $2,079.46 $25.91 +$7,077
Step 8 $55,567 $2,137.19 $26.63 +$7,273
Step 9 $57,069 $2,194.96 $27.34 +$7,470
Step 10 $58,570 $2,252.69 $28.06 +$7,666
← 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 $39,159
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $45,056
  • Locality add-on +$5,897
  • Adjustment percent 15.06%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $50,904
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $58,570

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 2017, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.06% 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 $1,733 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,253. 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 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 2017, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $45,056 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $58,570. This is 15.06% 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 2017, it is 15.06%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $5,897 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 $1,733 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.