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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$49,471 GS-8 Step 1 in PHILADELPHIA (2018)
$64,317 GS-8 Step 10 in PHILADELPHIA (2018)
+$9,764 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-8 pay table for PHILADELPHIA

Each step below already includes the 24.59% 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 $49,471 $1,902.73 $23.70 +$9,764
Step 2 $51,121 $1,966.19 $24.49 +$10,090
Step 3 $52,770 $2,029.62 $25.29 +$10,415
Step 4 $54,420 $2,093.08 $26.08 +$10,741
Step 5 $56,069 $2,156.50 $26.87 +$11,066
Step 6 $57,719 $2,219.96 $27.66 +$11,392
Step 7 $59,368 $2,283.38 $28.45 +$11,717
Step 8 $61,018 $2,346.85 $29.24 +$12,043
Step 9 $62,668 $2,410.31 $30.03 +$12,369
Step 10 $64,317 $2,473.73 $30.82 +$12,694
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more PHILADELPHIA pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $39,707
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-8 Step 1 $49,471
  • Locality add-on +$9,764
  • Adjustment percent 24.59%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $51,623
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-8 Step 10 $64,317

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 PHILADELPHIA: 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 2018, the PHILADELPHIA pay area adds a 24.59% 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 PHILADELPHIA

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,903 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,474. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2018 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 PHILADELPHIA page.

Other grades in PHILADELPHIA

GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in PHILADELPHIA?
    In 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns $49,471 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $64,317. This is 24.59% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHILADELPHIA in 2018, it is 24.59%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $9,764 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,903 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.