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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$59,690 GS-8 Step 1 in Houston (2023)
$77,601 GS-8 Step 10 in Houston (2023)
+$15,301 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-8 pay table for Houston

Each step below already includes the 34.47% 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 $59,690 $2,295.77 $28.60 +$15,301
Step 2 $61,680 $2,372.31 $29.55 +$15,811
Step 3 $63,670 $2,448.85 $30.51 +$16,321
Step 4 $65,660 $2,525.38 $31.46 +$16,831
Step 5 $67,651 $2,601.96 $32.42 +$17,342
Step 6 $69,641 $2,678.50 $33.37 +$17,852
Step 7 $71,631 $2,755.04 $34.32 +$18,362
Step 8 $73,621 $2,831.58 $35.28 +$18,872
Step 9 $75,611 $2,908.12 $36.23 +$19,382
Step 10 $77,601 $2,984.65 $37.18 +$19,892
← GS-7 Calculate my take-home GS-9 →

Base vs. locality comparison

How much more Houston pays

  • Base GS-8 Step 1 $44,389
  • Houston GS-8 Step 1 $59,690
  • Locality add-on +$15,301
  • Adjustment percent 34.47%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $57,709
  • Houston GS-8 Step 10 $77,601

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 2023, the Houston pay area adds a 34.47% 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 $2,296 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,985. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.

Note. This is the archived 2023 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 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Houston earns $59,690 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $77,601. This is 34.47% 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 2023, it is 34.47%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,301 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 $2,296 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.