2024 GS-8 Pay in San Diego
GS-8 employees with a duty station in San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA earn 33.05% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $46,475 on the base table to $61,835 in San Diego.
2024 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 | $61,835 | $2,378.27 | $29.63 | +$15,360 |
| Step 2 | $63,896 | $2,457.54 | $30.62 | +$15,872 |
| Step 3 | $65,957 | $2,536.81 | $31.60 | +$16,384 |
| Step 4 | $68,018 | $2,616.08 | $32.59 | +$16,896 |
| Step 5 | $70,079 | $2,695.35 | $33.58 | +$17,408 |
| Step 6 | $72,140 | $2,774.62 | $34.57 | +$17,920 |
| Step 7 | $74,201 | $2,853.88 | $35.55 | +$18,432 |
| Step 8 | $76,262 | $2,933.15 | $36.54 | +$18,944 |
| Step 9 | $78,323 | $3,012.42 | $37.53 | +$19,456 |
| Step 10 | $80,383 | $3,091.65 | $38.52 | +$19,967 |
2024 GS-8 pay table for San Diego
Each step below already includes the 33.05% 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 | $61,835 | $2,378.27 | $29.63 | +$15,360 |
| Step 2 | $63,896 | $2,457.54 | $30.62 | +$15,872 |
| Step 3 | $65,957 | $2,536.81 | $31.60 | +$16,384 |
| Step 4 | $68,018 | $2,616.08 | $32.59 | +$16,896 |
| Step 5 | $70,079 | $2,695.35 | $33.58 | +$17,408 |
| Step 6 | $72,140 | $2,774.62 | $34.57 | +$17,920 |
| Step 7 | $74,201 | $2,853.88 | $35.55 | +$18,432 |
| Step 8 | $76,262 | $2,933.15 | $36.54 | +$18,944 |
| Step 9 | $78,323 | $3,012.42 | $37.53 | +$19,456 |
| Step 10 | $80,383 | $3,091.65 | $38.52 | +$19,967 |
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 2024, the San Diego pay area adds a 33.05% 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 $2,378 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,092. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2024 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 2024, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in San Diego earns $61,835 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,383. This is 33.05% 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 2024, it is 33.05%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,360 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 $2,378 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.