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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$51,859 GS-8 Step 1 in SAN DIEGO (2019)
$67,415 GS-8 Step 10 in SAN DIEGO (2019)
+$11,596 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2019 GS-8 pay table for SAN DIEGO

Each step below already includes the 28.80% 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 $51,859 $1,994.58 $24.85 +$11,596
Step 2 $53,587 $2,061.04 $25.68 +$11,982
Step 3 $55,316 $2,127.54 $26.51 +$12,369
Step 4 $57,044 $2,194.00 $27.33 +$12,755
Step 5 $58,773 $2,260.50 $28.16 +$13,142
Step 6 $60,501 $2,326.96 $28.99 +$13,528
Step 7 $62,230 $2,393.46 $29.82 +$13,915
Step 8 $63,958 $2,459.92 $30.65 +$14,301
Step 9 $65,687 $2,526.42 $31.47 +$14,688
Step 10 $67,415 $2,592.88 $32.30 +$15,074
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SAN DIEGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $40,263
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 1 $51,859
  • Locality add-on +$11,596
  • Adjustment percent 28.80%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $52,341
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 10 $67,415

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 2019, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 28.80% 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 $1,995 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,593. 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 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 2019, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $51,859 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $67,415. This is 28.80% 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 2019, it is 28.80%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,596 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 $1,995 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.