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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,450 GS-8 Step 1 in PHILADELPHIA (2019)
$65,583 GS-8 Step 10 in PHILADELPHIA (2019)
+$10,187 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-8 pay table for PHILADELPHIA

Each step below already includes the 25.30% 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 $50,450 $1,940.38 $24.17 +$10,187
Step 2 $52,131 $2,005.04 $24.98 +$10,526
Step 3 $53,813 $2,069.73 $25.78 +$10,866
Step 4 $55,494 $2,134.38 $26.59 +$11,205
Step 5 $57,176 $2,199.08 $27.40 +$11,545
Step 6 $58,857 $2,263.73 $28.20 +$11,884
Step 7 $60,539 $2,328.42 $29.01 +$12,224
Step 8 $62,220 $2,393.08 $29.81 +$12,563
Step 9 $63,902 $2,457.77 $30.62 +$12,903
Step 10 $65,583 $2,522.42 $31.42 +$13,242
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more PHILADELPHIA pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $40,263
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-8 Step 1 $50,450
  • Locality add-on +$10,187
  • Adjustment percent 25.30%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $52,341
  • PHILADELPHIA GS-8 Step 10 $65,583

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 PHILADELPHIA: 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 PHILADELPHIA pay area adds a 25.30% 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 PHILADELPHIA

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,940 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,522. 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 PHILADELPHIA page.

Other grades in PHILADELPHIA

GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in PHILADELPHIA?
    In 2019, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns $50,450 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,583. This is 25.30% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHILADELPHIA in 2019, it is 25.30%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $10,187 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in PHILADELPHIA?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHILADELPHIA earns roughly $1,940 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.