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Updated with current federal pay tables and reference data

$51,713 GS-8 Step 1 in Rest of U.S. (2023)
$67,231 GS-8 Step 10 in Rest of U.S. (2023)
+$7,324 Locality add-on at Step 1 vs. base

2023 GS-8 pay table for Rest of U.S.

Each step below already includes the 16.50% 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 $51,713 $1,988.96 $24.78 +$7,324
Step 2 $53,437 $2,055.27 $25.60 +$7,568
Step 3 $55,162 $2,121.62 $26.43 +$7,813
Step 4 $56,886 $2,187.92 $27.26 +$8,057
Step 5 $58,610 $2,254.23 $28.08 +$8,301
Step 6 $60,334 $2,320.54 $28.91 +$8,545
Step 7 $62,058 $2,386.85 $29.74 +$8,789
Step 8 $63,783 $2,453.19 $30.56 +$9,034
Step 9 $65,507 $2,519.50 $31.39 +$9,278
Step 10 $67,231 $2,585.81 $32.21 +$9,522
← 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 $44,389
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 1 $51,713
  • Locality add-on +$7,324
  • Adjustment percent 16.50%
  • Base GS-8 Step 10 $57,709
  • Rest of U.S. GS-8 Step 10 $67,231

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 2023, the Rest of U.S. pay area adds a 16.50% 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 $1,989 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,586. 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 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 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Rest of U.S. earns $51,713 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $67,231. This is 16.50% 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 2023, it is 16.50%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $7,324 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 $1,989 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.