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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,151 GS-8 Step 1 in BUFFALO (2021)
$65,199 GS-8 Step 10 in BUFFALO (2021)
+$8,428 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 pay table for BUFFALO

Each step below already includes the 20.20% 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 $50,151 $1,928.88 $24.03 +$8,428
Step 2 $51,823 $1,993.19 $24.83 +$8,709
Step 3 $53,495 $2,057.50 $25.63 +$8,990
Step 4 $55,167 $2,121.81 $26.43 +$9,271
Step 5 $56,839 $2,186.12 $27.23 +$9,552
Step 6 $58,511 $2,250.42 $28.04 +$9,833
Step 7 $60,183 $2,314.73 $28.84 +$10,114
Step 8 $61,855 $2,379.04 $29.64 +$10,395
Step 9 $63,527 $2,443.35 $30.44 +$10,676
Step 10 $65,199 $2,507.65 $31.24 +$10,957
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more BUFFALO pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • BUFFALO GS-8 Step 1 $50,151
  • Locality add-on +$8,428
  • Adjustment percent 20.20%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • BUFFALO GS-8 Step 10 $65,199

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 BUFFALO: 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 2021, the BUFFALO pay area adds a 20.20% 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 BUFFALO

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,929 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,508. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2021 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 BUFFALO page.

Other grades in BUFFALO

GS-8 in BUFFALO questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in BUFFALO?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns $50,151 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,199. This is 20.20% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in BUFFALO?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For BUFFALO in 2021, it is 20.20%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,428 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in BUFFALO?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in BUFFALO earns roughly $1,929 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.