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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,608 GS-8 Step 1 in SAN DIEGO (2020)
$69,690 GS-8 Step 10 in SAN DIEGO (2020)
+$12,298 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-8 pay table for SAN DIEGO

Each step below already includes the 29.77% 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 $53,608 $2,061.85 $25.69 +$12,298
Step 2 $55,395 $2,130.58 $26.54 +$12,708
Step 3 $57,182 $2,199.31 $27.40 +$13,118
Step 4 $58,969 $2,268.04 $28.26 +$13,528
Step 5 $60,756 $2,336.77 $29.11 +$13,938
Step 6 $62,543 $2,405.50 $29.97 +$14,348
Step 7 $64,330 $2,474.23 $30.82 +$14,758
Step 8 $66,117 $2,542.96 $31.68 +$15,168
Step 9 $67,903 $2,611.65 $32.54 +$15,577
Step 10 $69,690 $2,680.38 $33.39 +$15,987
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SAN DIEGO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,310
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 1 $53,608
  • Locality add-on +$12,298
  • Adjustment percent 29.77%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $53,703
  • SAN DIEGO GS-8 Step 10 $69,690

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 2020, the SAN DIEGO pay area adds a 29.77% 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 $2,062 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,680. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2020 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 2020, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SAN DIEGO earns $53,608 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $69,690. This is 29.77% 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 2020, it is 29.77%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,298 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 $2,062 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.