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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$55,625 GS-8 Step 1 in HOUSTON (2021)
$72,315 GS-8 Step 10 in HOUSTON (2021)
+$13,902 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 pay table for HOUSTON

Each step below already includes the 33.32% 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 $55,625 $2,139.42 $26.65 +$13,902
Step 2 $57,480 $2,210.77 $27.54 +$14,366
Step 3 $59,334 $2,282.08 $28.43 +$14,829
Step 4 $61,189 $2,353.42 $29.32 +$15,293
Step 5 $63,043 $2,424.73 $30.21 +$15,756
Step 6 $64,898 $2,496.08 $31.10 +$16,220
Step 7 $66,752 $2,567.38 $31.98 +$16,683
Step 8 $68,606 $2,638.69 $32.87 +$17,146
Step 9 $70,461 $2,710.04 $33.76 +$17,610
Step 10 $72,315 $2,781.35 $34.65 +$18,073
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more HOUSTON pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 1 $55,625
  • Locality add-on +$13,902
  • Adjustment percent 33.32%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • HOUSTON GS-8 Step 10 $72,315

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 HOUSTON: 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 HOUSTON pay area adds a 33.32% 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 HOUSTON

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,139 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,781. 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 HOUSTON page.

Other grades in HOUSTON

GS-8 in HOUSTON questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in HOUSTON?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns $55,625 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $72,315. This is 33.32% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For HOUSTON in 2021, it is 33.32%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,902 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in HOUSTON?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in HOUSTON earns roughly $2,139 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.