2019 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 29.32% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $40,263 on the base table to $52,068 in Washington DC.
2019 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 | $52,068 | $2,002.62 | $24.95 | +$11,805 |
| Step 2 | $53,804 | $2,069.38 | $25.78 | +$12,199 |
| Step 3 | $55,539 | $2,136.12 | $26.61 | +$12,592 |
| Step 4 | $57,275 | $2,202.88 | $27.44 | +$12,986 |
| Step 5 | $59,010 | $2,269.62 | $28.28 | +$13,379 |
| Step 6 | $60,745 | $2,336.35 | $29.11 | +$13,772 |
| Step 7 | $62,481 | $2,403.12 | $29.94 | +$14,166 |
| Step 8 | $64,216 | $2,469.85 | $30.77 | +$14,559 |
| Step 9 | $65,952 | $2,536.62 | $31.60 | +$14,953 |
| Step 10 | $67,687 | $2,603.35 | $32.43 | +$15,346 |
2019 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 29.32% 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 | $52,068 | $2,002.62 | $24.95 | +$11,805 |
| Step 2 | $53,804 | $2,069.38 | $25.78 | +$12,199 |
| Step 3 | $55,539 | $2,136.12 | $26.61 | +$12,592 |
| Step 4 | $57,275 | $2,202.88 | $27.44 | +$12,986 |
| Step 5 | $59,010 | $2,269.62 | $28.28 | +$13,379 |
| Step 6 | $60,745 | $2,336.35 | $29.11 | +$13,772 |
| Step 7 | $62,481 | $2,403.12 | $29.94 | +$14,166 |
| Step 8 | $64,216 | $2,469.85 | $30.77 | +$14,559 |
| Step 9 | $65,952 | $2,536.62 | $31.60 | +$14,953 |
| Step 10 | $67,687 | $2,603.35 | $32.43 | +$15,346 |
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 2019, the Washington DC pay area adds a 29.32% 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 $2,003 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,603. 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 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 2019, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $52,068 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $67,687. This is 29.32% 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 2019, it is 29.32%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,805 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 $2,003 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.