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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$55,304 GS-8 Step 1 in San Francisco (2018)
$71,901 GS-8 Step 10 in San Francisco (2018)
+$15,597 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2018 GS-8 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 39.28% 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 $55,304 $2,127.08 $26.50 +$15,597
Step 2 $57,148 $2,198.00 $27.38 +$16,117
Step 3 $58,992 $2,268.92 $28.27 +$16,637
Step 4 $60,836 $2,339.85 $29.15 +$17,157
Step 5 $62,680 $2,410.77 $30.03 +$17,677
Step 6 $64,524 $2,481.69 $30.92 +$18,197
Step 7 $66,368 $2,552.62 $31.80 +$18,717
Step 8 $68,212 $2,623.54 $32.68 +$19,237
Step 9 $70,056 $2,694.46 $33.57 +$19,757
Step 10 $71,901 $2,765.42 $34.45 +$20,278
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $39,707
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 1 $55,304
  • Locality add-on +$15,597
  • Adjustment percent 39.28%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $51,623
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 10 $71,901

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 Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 39.28% 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 Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,127 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,765. 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 Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-8 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in San Francisco?
    In 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $55,304 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $71,901. This is 39.28% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2018, it is 39.28%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,597 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,127 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.