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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,365 GS-8 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2019)
$69,373 GS-8 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2019)
+$13,102 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-8 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 32.54% 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 $53,365 $2,052.50 $25.57 +$13,102
Step 2 $55,143 $2,120.88 $26.42 +$13,538
Step 3 $56,922 $2,189.31 $27.27 +$13,975
Step 4 $58,701 $2,257.73 $28.13 +$14,412
Step 5 $60,479 $2,326.12 $28.98 +$14,848
Step 6 $62,258 $2,394.54 $29.83 +$15,285
Step 7 $64,037 $2,462.96 $30.68 +$15,722
Step 8 $65,815 $2,531.35 $31.54 +$16,158
Step 9 $67,594 $2,599.77 $32.39 +$16,595
Step 10 $69,373 $2,668.19 $33.24 +$17,032
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $40,263
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 1 $53,365
  • Locality add-on +$13,102
  • Adjustment percent 32.54%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $52,341
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 10 $69,373

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 HOUSTON: 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 2019, the HOUSTON pay area adds a 32.54% 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 HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,053 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,668. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2019 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-8 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2019, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $53,365 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $69,373. This is 32.54% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2019, it is 32.54%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,102 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,053 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.