2025 GS-8 Pay in Denver
GS-8 employees with a duty station in Denver-Aurora, CO earn 30.52% 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 $61,690 in Denver.
2025 GS-8 Pay in Denver
Locality-adjusted GS-8 rates for Denver-Aurora, CO.
| Step | Annual salary | Biweekly pay | Hourly rate | Locality add-on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | $61,690 | $2,372.69 | $29.56 | +$14,425 |
| Step 2 | $63,747 | $2,451.81 | $30.54 | +$14,906 |
| Step 3 | $65,804 | $2,530.92 | $31.53 | +$15,387 |
| Step 4 | $67,861 | $2,610.04 | $32.52 | +$15,868 |
| Step 5 | $69,918 | $2,689.15 | $33.50 | +$16,349 |
| Step 6 | $71,975 | $2,768.27 | $34.49 | +$16,830 |
| Step 7 | $74,032 | $2,847.38 | $35.47 | +$17,311 |
| Step 8 | $76,089 | $2,926.50 | $36.46 | +$17,792 |
| Step 9 | $78,146 | $3,005.62 | $37.44 | +$18,273 |
| Step 10 | $80,203 | $3,084.73 | $38.43 | +$18,754 |
2025 GS-8 pay table for Denver
Each step below already includes the 30.52% 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 | $61,690 | $2,372.69 | $29.56 | +$14,425 |
| Step 2 | $63,747 | $2,451.81 | $30.54 | +$14,906 |
| Step 3 | $65,804 | $2,530.92 | $31.53 | +$15,387 |
| Step 4 | $67,861 | $2,610.04 | $32.52 | +$15,868 |
| Step 5 | $69,918 | $2,689.15 | $33.50 | +$16,349 |
| Step 6 | $71,975 | $2,768.27 | $34.49 | +$16,830 |
| Step 7 | $74,032 | $2,847.38 | $35.47 | +$17,311 |
| Step 8 | $76,089 | $2,926.50 | $36.46 | +$17,792 |
| Step 9 | $78,146 | $3,005.62 | $37.44 | +$18,273 |
| Step 10 | $80,203 | $3,084.73 | $38.43 | +$18,754 |
Base vs. locality comparison
How much more Denver pays
Step-increase waiting periods
GS-8 in Denver: 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 Denver pay area adds a 30.52% 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 Denver
Before taxes and deductions, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,373 per biweekly pay period. At Step 10 that rises to $3,085. 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 Denver page.
Other grades in Denver
GS-8 in Denver questions
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How much does a GS-8 make in Denver?
In 2025, a GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns $61,690 per year. At Step 10 the salary reaches $80,203. This is 30.52% higher than the base GS-8 salary. -
What is the locality adjustment for GS-8 in Denver?
The locality adjustment is the same for every grade and step within a pay area. For Denver in 2025, it is 30.52%. On a GS-8 Step 1 salary that translates to an extra $14,425 per year. -
What is the biweekly pay for GS-8 in Denver?
Biweekly pay is annual salary divided by 26. A GS-8 Step 1 employee in Denver earns roughly $2,373 per pay period before tax and retirement deductions.