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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$49,549 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2022)
$64,410 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2022)
+$6,908 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2022 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 16.20% 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 $49,549 $1,905.73 $23.74 +$6,908
Step 2 $51,200 $1,969.23 $24.53 +$7,138
Step 3 $52,851 $2,032.73 $25.32 +$7,368
Step 4 $54,502 $2,096.23 $26.11 +$7,598
Step 5 $56,154 $2,159.77 $26.91 +$7,829
Step 6 $57,805 $2,223.27 $27.70 +$8,059
Step 7 $59,456 $2,286.77 $28.49 +$8,289
Step 8 $61,107 $2,350.27 $29.28 +$8,519
Step 9 $62,758 $2,413.77 $30.07 +$8,749
Step 10 $64,410 $2,477.31 $30.86 +$8,980
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Rest of U.S. pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $42,641
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $49,549
  • Locality add-on +$6,908
  • Adjustment percent 16.20%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $55,430
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $64,410

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 Rest of U.S.: 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 Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.20% 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 Rest of U.S.

Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,906 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,477. 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 Rest of U.S. page.

Other grades in Rest of U.S.

GS-8 in Rest of U.S. questions

  • How much does a GS-8 make in Rest of U.S.?
    In 2022, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $49,549 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $64,410. This is 16.20% higher than the base GS-8 salary.
  • What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
    The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Rest of U.S. in 2022, it is 16.20%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $6,908 per year.
  • What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Rest of U.S.?
    Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns roughly $1,906 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.