2020 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $41,310 on the base table to $53,901 in Washington DC.
2020 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 | $53,901 | $2,073.12 | $25.83 | +$12,591 |
| Step 2 | $55,698 | $2,142.23 | $26.69 | +$13,011 |
| Step 3 | $57,495 | $2,211.35 | $27.55 | +$13,431 |
| Step 4 | $59,291 | $2,280.42 | $28.41 | +$13,850 |
| Step 5 | $61,088 | $2,349.54 | $29.27 | +$14,270 |
| Step 6 | $62,885 | $2,418.65 | $30.13 | +$14,690 |
| Step 7 | $64,682 | $2,487.77 | $30.99 | +$15,110 |
| Step 8 | $66,478 | $2,556.85 | $31.85 | +$15,529 |
| Step 9 | $68,275 | $2,625.96 | $32.71 | +$15,949 |
| Step 10 | $70,072 | $2,695.08 | $33.58 | +$16,369 |
2020 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $53,901 | $2,073.12 | $25.83 | +$12,591 |
| Step 2 | $55,698 | $2,142.23 | $26.69 | +$13,011 |
| Step 3 | $57,495 | $2,211.35 | $27.55 | +$13,431 |
| Step 4 | $59,291 | $2,280.42 | $28.41 | +$13,850 |
| Step 5 | $61,088 | $2,349.54 | $29.27 | +$14,270 |
| Step 6 | $62,885 | $2,418.65 | $30.13 | +$14,690 |
| Step 7 | $64,682 | $2,487.77 | $30.99 | +$15,110 |
| Step 8 | $66,478 | $2,556.85 | $31.85 | +$15,529 |
| Step 9 | $68,275 | $2,625.96 | $32.71 | +$15,949 |
| Step 10 | $70,072 | $2,695.08 | $33.58 | +$16,369 |
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 2020, the Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 $2,073 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,695. 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 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 2020, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $53,901 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $70,072. This is 30.48% 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 2020, it is 30.48%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,591 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 $2,073 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.