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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$58,429 GS-8 Step 1 in San Francisco (2020)
$75,958 GS-8 Step 10 in San Francisco (2020)
+$17,119 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2020 GS-8 pay table for San Francisco

Each step below already includes the 41.44% 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 $58,429 $2,247.27 $28.00 +$17,119
Step 2 $60,376 $2,322.15 $28.93 +$17,689
Step 3 $62,324 $2,397.08 $29.86 +$18,260
Step 4 $64,272 $2,472.00 $30.80 +$18,831
Step 5 $66,219 $2,546.88 $31.73 +$19,401
Step 6 $68,167 $2,621.81 $32.66 +$19,972
Step 7 $70,115 $2,696.73 $33.60 +$20,543
Step 8 $72,062 $2,771.62 $34.53 +$21,113
Step 9 $74,010 $2,846.54 $35.46 +$21,684
Step 10 $75,958 $2,921.46 $36.40 +$22,255
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more San Francisco pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,310
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 1 $58,429
  • Locality add-on +$17,119
  • Adjustment percent 41.44%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $53,703
  • San Francisco GS-8 Step 10 $75,958

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 Francisco: 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 Francisco pay area adds a 41.44% 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 Francisco

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,247 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,921. 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 Francisco page.

Other grades in San Francisco

GS-8 in San Francisco questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in San Francisco?
    In 2020, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns $58,429 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $75,958. This is 41.44% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Francisco in 2020, it is 41.44%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $17,119 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Francisco?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Francisco earns roughly $2,247 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.