2018 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 28.22% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $39,707 on the base table to $50,912 in Washington DC.
2018 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $50,912 | $1,958.15 | $24.39 | +$11,205 |
| Step 2 | $52,610 | $2,023.46 | $25.21 | +$11,579 |
| Step 3 | $54,308 | $2,088.77 | $26.02 | +$11,953 |
| Step 4 | $56,005 | $2,154.04 | $26.84 | +$12,326 |
| Step 5 | $57,703 | $2,219.35 | $27.65 | +$12,700 |
| Step 6 | $59,400 | $2,284.62 | $28.46 | +$13,073 |
| Step 7 | $61,098 | $2,349.92 | $29.28 | +$13,447 |
| Step 8 | $62,796 | $2,415.23 | $30.09 | +$13,821 |
| Step 9 | $64,493 | $2,480.50 | $30.90 | +$14,194 |
| Step 10 | $66,191 | $2,545.81 | $31.72 | +$14,568 |
2018 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 28.22% 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 | $50,912 | $1,958.15 | $24.39 | +$11,205 |
| Step 2 | $52,610 | $2,023.46 | $25.21 | +$11,579 |
| Step 3 | $54,308 | $2,088.77 | $26.02 | +$11,953 |
| Step 4 | $56,005 | $2,154.04 | $26.84 | +$12,326 |
| Step 5 | $57,703 | $2,219.35 | $27.65 | +$12,700 |
| Step 6 | $59,400 | $2,284.62 | $28.46 | +$13,073 |
| Step 7 | $61,098 | $2,349.92 | $29.28 | +$13,447 |
| Step 8 | $62,796 | $2,415.23 | $30.09 | +$13,821 |
| Step 9 | $64,493 | $2,480.50 | $30.90 | +$14,194 |
| Step 10 | $66,191 | $2,545.81 | $31.72 | +$14,568 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 28.22% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,958 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,546. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-8 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Washington DC?
In 2018, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $50,912 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $66,191. This is 28.22% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2018, it is 28.22%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,205 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $1,958 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.