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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$45,810 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2018)
$59,557 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2018)
+$6,103 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 15.37% 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 $45,810 $1,761.92 $21.95 +$6,103
Step 2 $47,337 $1,820.65 $22.68 +$6,306
Step 3 $48,865 $1,879.42 $23.41 +$6,510
Step 4 $50,392 $1,938.15 $24.15 +$6,713
Step 5 $51,920 $1,996.92 $24.88 +$6,917
Step 6 $53,447 $2,055.65 $25.61 +$7,120
Step 7 $54,975 $2,114.42 $26.34 +$7,324
Step 8 $56,502 $2,173.15 $27.07 +$7,527
Step 9 $58,030 $2,231.92 $27.81 +$7,731
Step 10 $59,557 $2,290.65 $28.54 +$7,934
← 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 $39,707
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $45,810
  • Locality add-on +$6,103
  • Adjustment percent 15.37%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $51,623
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $59,557

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 2018, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 15.37% 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 $1,762 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,291. 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 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 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $45,810 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $59,557. This is 15.37% 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 2018, it is 15.37%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,103 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 $1,762 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.