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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$52,997 GS-8 Step 1 in SEATTLE (2021)
$68,898 GS-8 Step 10 in SEATTLE (2021)
+$11,274 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2021 GS-8 pay table for SEATTLE

Each step below already includes the 27.02% 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 $52,997 $2,038.35 $25.39 +$11,274
Step 2 $54,763 $2,106.27 $26.24 +$11,649
Step 3 $56,530 $2,174.23 $27.09 +$12,025
Step 4 $58,297 $2,242.19 $27.93 +$12,401
Step 5 $60,064 $2,310.15 $28.78 +$12,777
Step 6 $61,831 $2,378.12 $29.63 +$13,153
Step 7 $63,598 $2,446.08 $30.47 +$13,529
Step 8 $65,364 $2,514.00 $31.32 +$13,904
Step 9 $67,131 $2,581.96 $32.17 +$14,280
Step 10 $68,898 $2,649.92 $33.01 +$14,656
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more SEATTLE pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $41,723
  • SEATTLE GS-8 Step 1 $52,997
  • Locality add-on +$11,274
  • Adjustment percent 27.02%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $54,242
  • SEATTLE GS-8 Step 10 $68,898

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 SEATTLE: 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 SEATTLE pay area adds a 27.02% 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 SEATTLE

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $2,038 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,650. 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 SEATTLE page.

Other grades in SEATTLE

GS-8 in SEATTLE questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in SEATTLE?
    In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns $52,997 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $68,898. This is 27.02% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in SEATTLE?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For SEATTLE in 2021, it is 27.02%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $11,274 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in SEATTLE?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in SEATTLE earns roughly $2,038 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.