2023 GS-8 Pay in San Diego
GS-8 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 32.01% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $44,389 on the base table to $58,598 in San Diego.
2023 GS-8 Pay in San Diego
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $58,598 | $2,253.77 | $28.08 | +$14,209 |
| Step 2 | $60,552 | $2,328.92 | $29.01 | +$14,683 |
| Step 3 | $62,505 | $2,404.04 | $29.95 | +$15,156 |
| Step 4 | $64,459 | $2,479.19 | $30.89 | +$15,630 |
| Step 5 | $66,413 | $2,554.35 | $31.82 | +$16,104 |
| Step 6 | $68,367 | $2,629.50 | $32.76 | +$16,578 |
| Step 7 | $70,320 | $2,704.62 | $33.69 | +$17,051 |
| Step 8 | $72,274 | $2,779.77 | $34.63 | +$17,525 |
| Step 9 | $74,228 | $2,854.92 | $35.57 | +$17,999 |
| Step 10 | $76,182 | $2,930.08 | $36.50 | +$18,473 |
2023 GS-8 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 32.01% 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 | $58,598 | $2,253.77 | $28.08 | +$14,209 |
| Step 2 | $60,552 | $2,328.92 | $29.01 | +$14,683 |
| Step 3 | $62,505 | $2,404.04 | $29.95 | +$15,156 |
| Step 4 | $64,459 | $2,479.19 | $30.89 | +$15,630 |
| Step 5 | $66,413 | $2,554.35 | $31.82 | +$16,104 |
| Step 6 | $68,367 | $2,629.50 | $32.76 | +$16,578 |
| Step 7 | $70,320 | $2,704.62 | $33.69 | +$17,051 |
| Step 8 | $72,274 | $2,779.77 | $34.63 | +$17,525 |
| Step 9 | $74,228 | $2,854.92 | $35.57 | +$17,999 |
| Step 10 | $76,182 | $2,930.08 | $36.50 | +$18,473 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more San Diego pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in San Diego: 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 San Diego pay area adds a 32.01% 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 San Diego
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,254 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,930. 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 San Diego page.
Other grades in San Diego
GS-8 in San Diego questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in San Diego?
In 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $58,598 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $76,182. This is 32.01% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in San Diego?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For San Diego in 2023, it is 32.01%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,209 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in San Diego?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns roughly $2,254 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.