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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$50,118 GS-8 Step 1 in PHOENIX (2021)
$65,155 GS-8 Step 10 in PHOENIX (2021)
+$8,395 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 pay table for PHOENIX

Each step below already includes the 20.12% 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 $50,118 $1,927.62 $24.01 +$8,395
Step 2 $51,789 $1,991.88 $24.82 +$8,675
Step 3 $53,459 $2,056.12 $25.62 +$8,954
Step 4 $55,130 $2,120.38 $26.42 +$9,234
Step 5 $56,801 $2,184.65 $27.22 +$9,514
Step 6 $58,472 $2,248.92 $28.02 +$9,794
Step 7 $60,143 $2,313.19 $28.82 +$10,074
Step 8 $61,814 $2,377.46 $29.62 +$10,354
Step 9 $63,485 $2,441.73 $30.42 +$10,634
Step 10 $65,155 $2,505.96 $31.22 +$10,913
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more PHOENIX pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • PHOENIX GS-8 Step 1 $50,118
  • Locality add-on +$8,395
  • Adjustment percent 20.12%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • PHOENIX GS-8 Step 10 $65,155

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 PHOENIX: 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 PHOENIX pay area adds a 20.12% 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 PHOENIX

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns roughly $1,928 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,506. 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 PHOENIX page.

Other grades in PHOENIX

GS-8 in PHOENIX questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in PHOENIX?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns $50,118 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $65,155. This is 20.12% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in PHOENIX?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For PHOENIX in 2021, it is 20.12%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $8,395 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in PHOENIX?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in PHOENIX earns roughly $1,928 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.