2023 GS-8 Pay in Washington DC
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Washington-Baltimore-Arlington, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA earn 32.49% 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 $58,811 in Washington DC.
2023 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 | $58,811 | $2,261.96 | $28.18 | +$14,422 |
| Step 2 | $60,772 | $2,337.38 | $29.12 | +$14,903 |
| Step 3 | $62,733 | $2,412.81 | $30.06 | +$15,384 |
| Step 4 | $64,694 | $2,488.23 | $31.00 | +$15,865 |
| Step 5 | $66,654 | $2,563.62 | $31.94 | +$16,345 |
| Step 6 | $68,615 | $2,639.04 | $32.88 | +$16,826 |
| Step 7 | $70,576 | $2,714.46 | $33.82 | +$17,307 |
| Step 8 | $72,537 | $2,789.88 | $34.76 | +$17,788 |
| Step 9 | $74,498 | $2,865.31 | $35.70 | +$18,269 |
| Step 10 | $76,459 | $2,940.73 | $36.64 | +$18,750 |
2023 GS-8 pay table for Washington DC
Each step below already includes the 32.49% 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 | $58,811 | $2,261.96 | $28.18 | +$14,422 |
| Step 2 | $60,772 | $2,337.38 | $29.12 | +$14,903 |
| Step 3 | $62,733 | $2,412.81 | $30.06 | +$15,384 |
| Step 4 | $64,694 | $2,488.23 | $31.00 | +$15,865 |
| Step 5 | $66,654 | $2,563.62 | $31.94 | +$16,345 |
| Step 6 | $68,615 | $2,639.04 | $32.88 | +$16,826 |
| Step 7 | $70,576 | $2,714.46 | $33.82 | +$17,307 |
| Step 8 | $72,537 | $2,789.88 | $34.76 | +$17,788 |
| Step 9 | $74,498 | $2,865.31 | $35.70 | +$18,269 |
| Step 10 | $76,459 | $2,940.73 | $36.64 | +$18,750 |
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 2023, the Washington DC pay area adds a 32.49% 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 $2,262 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $2,941. 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 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 2023, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Washington DC earns $58,811 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $76,459. This is 32.49% 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 2023, it is 32.49%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,422 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 $2,262 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.