2025 GS-8 Pay in Boston
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT earn 32.58% on top of the base GS-8 pay scale. That means a GS-8 Step 1 salary jumps from $47,265 on the base table to $62,664 in Boston.
2025 GS-8 Pay in Boston
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Boston-Worcester-Providence, MA-RI-NH-CT-ME-VT.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $62,664 | $2,410.15 | $30.03 | +$15,399 |
| Step 2 | $64,753 | $2,490.50 | $31.03 | +$15,912 |
| Step 3 | $66,843 | $2,570.88 | $32.03 | +$16,426 |
| Step 4 | $68,932 | $2,651.23 | $33.03 | +$16,939 |
| Step 5 | $71,022 | $2,731.62 | $34.03 | +$17,453 |
| Step 6 | $73,111 | $2,811.96 | $35.03 | +$17,966 |
| Step 7 | $75,201 | $2,892.35 | $36.03 | +$18,480 |
| Step 8 | $77,290 | $2,972.69 | $37.03 | +$18,993 |
| Step 9 | $79,380 | $3,053.08 | $38.04 | +$19,507 |
| Step 10 | $81,469 | $3,133.42 | $39.04 | +$20,020 |
2025 GS-8 pay table for Boston
Each step below already includes the 32.58% 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 | $62,664 | $2,410.15 | $30.03 | +$15,399 |
| Step 2 | $64,753 | $2,490.50 | $31.03 | +$15,912 |
| Step 3 | $66,843 | $2,570.88 | $32.03 | +$16,426 |
| Step 4 | $68,932 | $2,651.23 | $33.03 | +$16,939 |
| Step 5 | $71,022 | $2,731.62 | $34.03 | +$17,453 |
| Step 6 | $73,111 | $2,811.96 | $35.03 | +$17,966 |
| Step 7 | $75,201 | $2,892.35 | $36.03 | +$18,480 |
| Step 8 | $77,290 | $2,972.69 | $37.03 | +$18,993 |
| Step 9 | $79,380 | $3,053.08 | $38.04 | +$19,507 |
| Step 10 | $81,469 | $3,133.42 | $39.04 | +$20,020 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Boston pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Boston: 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 2025, the Boston pay area adds a 32.58% 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 Boston
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,410 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,133. Actual take-home will be lower after federal tax, state tax, TSP contributions, retirement and health insurance deductions.
Note. This is the archived 2025 table. For current pay, open the latest GS-8 Boston page.
Other grades in Boston
GS-8 in Boston questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Boston?
In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns $62,664 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $81,469. This is 32.58% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Boston?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Boston in 2025, it is 32.58%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $15,399 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Boston?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Boston earns roughly $2,410 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.