An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,777 GS-8 Step 1 in SAN DIEGO (2018)
$66,015 GS-8 Step 10 in SAN DIEGO (2018)
+$11,070 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-8 pay table for SAN DIEGO

Each step below already includes the 27.88% 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 $50,777 $1,952.96 $24.33 +$11,070
Step 2 $52,470 $2,018.08 $25.14 +$11,439
Step 3 $54,164 $2,083.23 $25.95 +$11,809
Step 4 $55,857 $2,148.35 $26.76 +$12,178
Step 5 $57,550 $2,213.46 $27.58 +$12,547
Step 6 $59,243 $2,278.58 $28.39 +$12,916
Step 7 $60,936 $2,343.69 $29.20 +$13,285
Step 8 $62,629 $2,408.81 $30.01 +$13,654
Step 9 $64,322 $2,473.92 $30.82 +$14,023
Step 10 $66,015 $2,539.04 $31.63 +$14,392
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SAN DIEGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $39,707
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 1 $50,777
  • Locality add-on +$11,070
  • Adjustment percent 27.88%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $51,623
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 10 $66,015

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 SAN DIEGO: 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 SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 27.88% 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 SAN DIEGO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $1,953 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,539. 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 SAN DIEGO page.

Other grades in SAN DIEGO

GS-8 in SAN DIEGO questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in SAN DIEGO?
    In 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $50,777 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,015. This is 27.88% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in SAN DIEGO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SAN DIEGO in 2018, it is 27.88%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,070 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in SAN DIEGO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns roughly $1,953 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.