2022 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 31.53% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $42,641 on the base table to $56,086 in Washington DC.
2022 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 | $56,086 | $2,157.15 | $26.87 | +$13,445 |
| Step 2 | $57,955 | $2,229.04 | $27.77 | +$13,893 |
| Step 3 | $59,824 | $2,300.92 | $28.67 | +$14,341 |
| Step 4 | $61,693 | $2,372.81 | $29.56 | +$14,789 |
| Step 5 | $63,562 | $2,444.69 | $30.46 | +$15,237 |
| Step 6 | $65,431 | $2,516.58 | $31.35 | +$15,685 |
| Step 7 | $67,300 | $2,588.46 | $32.25 | +$16,133 |
| Step 8 | $69,169 | $2,660.35 | $33.14 | +$16,581 |
| Step 9 | $71,038 | $2,732.23 | $34.04 | +$17,029 |
| Step 10 | $72,907 | $2,804.12 | $34.93 | +$17,477 |
2022 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 31.53% 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 | $56,086 | $2,157.15 | $26.87 | +$13,445 |
| Step 2 | $57,955 | $2,229.04 | $27.77 | +$13,893 |
| Step 3 | $59,824 | $2,300.92 | $28.67 | +$14,341 |
| Step 4 | $61,693 | $2,372.81 | $29.56 | +$14,789 |
| Step 5 | $63,562 | $2,444.69 | $30.46 | +$15,237 |
| Step 6 | $65,431 | $2,516.58 | $31.35 | +$15,685 |
| Step 7 | $67,300 | $2,588.46 | $32.25 | +$16,133 |
| Step 8 | $69,169 | $2,660.35 | $33.14 | +$16,581 |
| Step 9 | $71,038 | $2,732.23 | $34.04 | +$17,029 |
| Step 10 | $72,907 | $2,804.12 | $34.93 | +$17,477 |
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 2022, the Washington DC pay area adds a 31.53% 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 $2,157 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,804. 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 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 2022, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $56,086 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $72,907. This is 31.53% 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 2022, it is 31.53%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $13,445 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 $2,157 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.