An independent federal pay resource. Not affiliated with OPM or any U.S. government agency.

Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$53,042 GS-8 Step 1 in DENVER (2021)
$68,958 GS-8 Step 10 in DENVER (2021)
+$11,319 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 pay table for DENVER

Each step below already includes the 27.13% 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 $53,042 $2,040.08 $25.42 +$11,319
Step 2 $54,811 $2,108.12 $26.26 +$11,697
Step 3 $56,579 $2,176.12 $27.11 +$12,074
Step 4 $58,348 $2,244.15 $27.96 +$12,452
Step 5 $60,116 $2,312.15 $28.80 +$12,829
Step 6 $61,884 $2,380.15 $29.65 +$13,206
Step 7 $63,653 $2,448.19 $30.50 +$13,584
Step 8 $65,421 $2,516.19 $31.35 +$13,961
Step 9 $67,189 $2,584.19 $32.19 +$14,338
Step 10 $68,958 $2,652.23 $33.04 +$14,716

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more DENVER pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • DENVER GS-8 Step 1 $53,042
  • Locality add-on +$11,319
  • Adjustment percent 27.13%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • DENVER GS-8 Step 10 $68,958

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 DENVER: 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 DENVER pay area adds a 27.13% 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 DENVER

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $2,040 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,652. 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 DENVER page.

Other grades in DENVER

GS-8 in DENVER questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in DENVER?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns $53,042 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $68,958. This is 27.13% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in DENVER?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For DENVER in 2021, it is 27.13%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,319 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in DENVER?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in DENVER earns roughly $2,040 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.