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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$57,122 GS-8 Step 1 in Houston (2022)
$74,254 GS-8 Step 10 in Houston (2022)
+$14,481 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-8 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 33.96% 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 $57,122 $2,197.00 $27.37 +$14,481
Step 2 $59,025 $2,270.19 $28.28 +$14,963
Step 3 $60,929 $2,343.42 $29.19 +$15,446
Step 4 $62,833 $2,416.65 $30.11 +$15,929
Step 5 $64,736 $2,489.85 $31.02 +$16,411
Step 6 $66,640 $2,563.08 $31.93 +$16,894
Step 7 $68,543 $2,636.27 $32.84 +$17,376
Step 8 $70,447 $2,709.50 $33.76 +$17,859
Step 9 $72,350 $2,782.69 $34.67 +$18,341
Step 10 $74,254 $2,855.92 $35.58 +$18,824
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $42,641
  • Houston GS-8 Step 1 $57,122
  • Locality add-on +$14,481
  • Adjustment percent 33.96%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $55,430
  • Houston GS-8 Step 10 $74,254

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 2022, the Houston pay area adds a 33.96% 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 $2,197 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,856. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2022 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 2022, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $57,122 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $74,254. This is 33.96% 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 2022, it is 33.96%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,481 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 $2,197 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.