2021 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 30.48% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $41,723 on the base table to $54,440 in Washington DC.
2021 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $54,440 | $2,093.85 | $26.09 | +$12,717 |
| Step 2 | $56,255 | $2,163.65 | $26.95 | +$13,141 |
| Step 3 | $58,070 | $2,233.46 | $27.82 | +$13,565 |
| Step 4 | $59,885 | $2,303.27 | $28.69 | +$13,989 |
| Step 5 | $61,700 | $2,373.08 | $29.56 | +$14,413 |
| Step 6 | $63,515 | $2,442.88 | $30.43 | +$14,837 |
| Step 7 | $65,330 | $2,512.69 | $31.30 | +$15,261 |
| Step 8 | $67,145 | $2,582.50 | $32.17 | +$15,685 |
| Step 9 | $68,960 | $2,652.31 | $33.04 | +$16,109 |
| Step 10 | $70,775 | $2,722.12 | $33.91 | +$16,533 |
2021 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 30.48% 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 | $54,440 | $2,093.85 | $26.09 | +$12,717 |
| Step 2 | $56,255 | $2,163.65 | $26.95 | +$13,141 |
| Step 3 | $58,070 | $2,233.46 | $27.82 | +$13,565 |
| Step 4 | $59,885 | $2,303.27 | $28.69 | +$13,989 |
| Step 5 | $61,700 | $2,373.08 | $29.56 | +$14,413 |
| Step 6 | $63,515 | $2,442.88 | $30.43 | +$14,837 |
| Step 7 | $65,330 | $2,512.69 | $31.30 | +$15,261 |
| Step 8 | $67,145 | $2,582.50 | $32.17 | +$15,685 |
| Step 9 | $68,960 | $2,652.31 | $33.04 | +$16,109 |
| Step 10 | $70,775 | $2,722.12 | $33.91 | +$16,533 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Washington DC pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Washington DC: 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 Washington DC pay area adds a 30.48% 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 Washington DC
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,094 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,722. 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 Washington DC page.
Other grades in Washington DC
GS-8 in Washington DC questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Washington DC?
In 2021, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $54,440 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $70,775. This is 30.48% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Washington DC?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Washington DC in 2021, it is 30.48%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $12,717 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Washington DC?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns roughly $2,094 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.